The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) announced Jan. 15 the 2025 Name a Snowplow Contest winners, in which the public was asked for input in naming the state’s winter road warriors.
“Thank you, New Mexico, for the most unique, fun, and New Mexico-inspired names for our hardworking snowplows. These trucks play an important role in keeping our communities connected and our roads safe during the winter months—look for our newly named plows on roads near you,” said the NMDOT in the press release announcing the names.
If you happen to encounter a snowplow on the highways, you may want to know its name. You certainly don’t want to take the chance of hurting a snowplow’s feelings. After all, they are very large and pushy, and they carry blades.
Two winning names were selected for each of the state’s six transportation districts, with Roswell and Chaves County, along with a huge swath of Southeast New Mexico, being in District 2.
If you see an NMDOT snowplow along the highways of this area, it could well be named “Scoop Dogg” or “Chips & Que Snow.”
It is unlikely that Scoop Dog is going to be as ubiquitous as the celebrity it is named for, Snoop Dog, who earned fame as a rapper but now seems to be everywhere hawking this or that event or product.
The other name selected for District 2, “Chips and Que Snow,” seems to be a reference to a very popular snack duo, but it might also reflect the feelings of many people in the area who, when they hear meteorologists predicting winter precipitation and end up asking, “What snow?” when it fails to materialize, which happens often.
Over in District 1, which contains the south-central and southwest parts of the Land of Enchantment, the names selected were “Snow Bueno” and “Snow Way, José.”
These names could put a chill on the use of “Spanglish” in the region, but don’t worry; these snowplows will most certainly be put on ice.
District 3’s, centered on “Burque,” oops, I mean “Albuquerque,” is blessed with snowplow names of the musical variety. “Alice Scooper” and “Taylor Drift,” who will be performing during the next blizzard, maybe even in concert.
Motorists up there in District 4, which includes the northeast part of the state — taking in Las Vegas, Raton and Clayton — might encounter “Blizzard of Oz” or “Red Chilly Brrrr-ito.”
I wonder if the Blizzard of Oz will specialize in yellow brick roads, and will Red Chilly Burrr-ito be easy to find at convenience stores?
District 5 is an oddly shaped district that includes the northwest portion of the state, including Farmington and Taos, with an odd appendage reaching down into Torrance County. Roadways in that area will be patrolled by “Clear-o-Pathra” and “Blizzard Wizard” when winter storms come calling.
I am not going to cast “asp”ersions at such famous royalty, and if I wander near the Blizzard Wizard, I think I will quickly get out of the way.
West-central New Mexico is in District 6, including Gallup and Grants. As the numerically last district, “Zia Later” seems quite appropriate, while “Snow, En-CHILL-ada” begs the question, “red or green?”
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