Ever since joining the Summit League in 2007, the North Dakota State Bison have been a dominant conference force. In fact, the Bison took home eight Summit League titles last year.
But there is one conference fight that NDSU have not won yet: the Summit League Food Fight.
The Food Fight is the food drive sponsored by the Summit League that the schools of the conference take part in. Like all good things, it is also a competition.
“It is a competition between all Summit League schools,” Bison softball shortstop Montana DeCamp said. “The challenge for all the schools to collect non-perishable food items and donations.”
The food is the standard for most food drives. Canned food is the easiest to name, as well as dry pastas and granola bars.
For NDSU, all the donations raised will be sent to the Emergency Food Pantry in Fargo. Currently, the Food Pantry is in greatest need for items such as pasta, rice, peanut butter and canned tuna and fruit.
In 2015, the Food Pantry served over 52,000 individuals, and nearly half were children.
Monetary donations are also needed, as food shelves can stretch every dollar they are given.
“Every $5 is around 13 pounds (of food),” DeCamp said.
There will be plenty of opportunities for Bison Nation to turn out for the Food Fight.
From Nov. 3-9, “we will be at the respective events’ lobby,” DeCamp said.
That means drop-off locations will be in the lobby of the Fargodome Saturday when the Bison take on Youngstown State, as well as the tailgating area that day.
At the tailgate, members of the NDSU Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) will be handing out reusable grocery bags and koozies, while supplies last. The SAAC is the group that is putting on the event here on campus.
Drop-off spots will be at both wrestling and volleyball events on Sunday, followed by both women’s basketball games on Nov. 6 and 9 with another wrestling meet on Nov. 8.
With all those opportunities, NDSU has a chance to win the event for the first time, but it will need a big improvement.
“We are usually pretty low (in the standings),” DeCamp said. “We are hoping this year by spreading the word we can at least be at the top.”
“Win or lose, at least we are donating to the food pantry.”
Like all Summit League events, expect a tough fight. Omaha won the Food Fight last year, ending South Dakota State’s five-year consecutive win streak.