Since inception, Showdown Series has fed over 330,000 meals to South Dakotans

VERMILLION, S.D. As part of the Fourth Annual South Dakota Showdown Series, South Dakota Corn, University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University will team up in a world record attempt to generate funds to benefit Feeding South Dakota.SDSS_horizontal

During the third quarter of the football game on Nov. 14, 2015, a Coyote cheerleader will attempt to put on 32 or more T-shirts in one minute. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the current world record is set at 31 shirts. For each T-shirt the cheerleader is able to put on, South Dakota Corn will make a donation of $100 to Feeding South Dakota. If the record is broken at 32 shirts, South Dakota Corn will make a donation of $3,200 to Feeding South Dakota.

“It’s great to see all of the excitement that is generated throughout the state when these two schools’ sports teams go head-to-head in the Showdown Series,” added Corn Utilization Council President Reno Brueggeman. “The enthusiasm of the loyal fans and students is matched by their generosity as they raise money to help feed hungry South Dakotans through this longstanding rivalry.”

“We are excited to compete in the 4th annual South Dakota Showdown Series as it showcases competition at the Division I level.  South Dakota Corn has been a great partner and has provided us a tremendous stage to tout the benefits of healthy competition, academic achievement, sportsmanship and philanthropy,” said South Dakota State University Director of Athletics Justin Sell. “Both schools take great pride in supporting Feeding South Dakota and look forward to raising funds and awareness to the organization’s important work. We hope to add some lifetime memories and create a sense of pride throughout the state as they see our student-athletes model the values that are the cornerstone of what makes South Dakota a great state.”

“The South Dakota Showdown Series has become a source of pride throughout our department, not only because it recognizes the academic and athletic achievements of our student-athletes, but also because of its philanthropic efforts to feed the people of South Dakota. We are thankful to have a strong partner in the South Dakota Corn Council and we look forward to this year’s competition,” said University of South Dakota Director of Athletics David Herbster.

In addition to the world record attempt, both universities are raising money to feed hungry families in the state by providing collection boxes in all Vermillion and Brookings First Bank & Trust branches and online at bankeasy.com. Complementing efforts are pledges per mile taken by the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity in support of the Official Game Ball Run from Brookings to Vermillion. Additional monies and awareness will be raised through social media campaigns awarding autographed memorabilia and Showdown tickets, and there are opportunities for fans to donate on game days at the concession areas.

“First Bank & Trust is pleased to serve as a collection point in this effort to support Feeding South Dakota,” said Kevin Tetzlaff, president of First Bank & Trust in Brookings. “As a community bank, it is both our responsibility and our privilege to help Feeding South Dakota and area Ag producers get food to those who need it most. We hope our customers will join us in this effort.”

Both teams launched a social media campaign this season, driving donations to Feeding South Dakota. Fans have the opportunity to win autographed memorabilia, Showdown Football game tickets or team apparel, by donating to Feeding South Dakota and liking the posts on Facebook at Facebook.com/SouthDakotaStateUniversity and Facebook.com/UniversityofSouthDakotaAthletics.

The Series is structured against a point system in which each school can earn 24 points per year based on head-to-head competition and Conference Championships between SDSU and USD, in a total of 17 men’s and women’s sports. Points are also awarded for athlete’s GPAs and philanthropic efforts. In its three years, the South Dakota Showdown Series, with the help of South Dakota Corn and Coyote and Jackrabbit fans, has raised over $66,000 for Feeding South Dakota equating over 330,000 meals for hungry South Dakotans.

Feeding South Dakota is the state’s hunger relief organization fighting to eliminate hunger in South Dakota. Feeding South Dakota assists in providing temporary food assistance to 21,000 hungry South Dakota families and individuals each week.

Leading the charge for this initiative with South Dakota Corn and the two universities are Jackrabbit Sports Properties and Coyote Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holders for SDSU Athletics and USD Athletics respectively. Both are properties of Learfield Sports, which manages multimedia rights for nearly 120 collegiate properties. For additional information, visit Learfield Sports (www.learfieldsports.com); South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (www.sdcorn.org) or Feeding South Dakota (www.feedingsouthdakota.org).