Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl Schedule, Roster Takes Shape

Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis Headlines Star-Studded Field Feb. 1 in Minneapolis

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Jan 04, 2018, 07:00 ET

ARDEN HILLS, Minn., Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Land O'Lakes, Inc. today announced Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis as the latest roster addition to the Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl™. Bettis will compete against other current and former players on the field in a test of farm-inspired skill and agility. ESPN reporter Marty Smith will host the event, with multi-platinum recording artist and actress Jordin Sparks providing sideline commentary.

The Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl trophy will be awarded to winners of the Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl, which will happen Thursday, Feb. 1 in Minneapolis. The event challenges teams of current and former professional football players and farmers to a series of farm-themed events, designed to inspire young people to consider careers in agriculture.

"The Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl is a unique event bringing together two seemingly unlike fields – football and farming – to celebrate the important work of farmers and inspire the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry," said Jerome Bettis, former running back and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I look forward to competing and testing my skills alongside some great athletes and outstanding farmers."

The Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl will be held on Thursday, February 1 from 1-3 p.m. CST at 3M Arena at Mariucci, the home arena for the University of Minnesota's men's hockey team, which will be transformed into a farm-themed competition course. Admission to attend is free. During the live event, six teams – each with one athlete and one Land O'Lakes member farmer – will compete in a series of five challenges.

The six teams are:

Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis and Katie Dotterer-Pyle of Cow Comfort Inn of Union Bridge, MD
Minnesota Vikings' tight end Kyle Rudolph* and Darin Johnson of Johnson Farms in Wells, MN (*pending availability)
Former wide receiver Greg Jennings and Amber Horn-Leiterman of Hornstead Dairy in Brillion, WI
Former center, current farmer Jason Brown and Dave Ribeiro of Rib Arrow Dairy in Tulare, CA
Player to be named later and JJ Nunes of Nunes and Sons Dairy in Tulare, CA
Player to be named later and Craig Roerick of Roerview Dairy in Swanville, MN

While perhaps best known for its LAND O LAKES^® butter, the company is a Fortune 209, farmer-owned food and agriculture company offering products and services from farm to fork, including the WinField United, Purina Animal Nutrition and Vermont Creamery brands. The Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl, as part of Land O'Lakes' Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee programming, aims to inspire the next generation of young leaders to consider careers in food and agriculture. By testing the skills of professional athletes on the farm, the event will showcase the intricacies and challenges of modern agriculture.

Final rosters and a complete schedule and event information will be announced soon. Fans can follow all the Land O'Lakes Farm Bowl action at www.TheFarmBowl.com.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2016 annual sales of $13 billion, Land O'Lakes is one of the nation's largest cooperatives, ranking 209 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 95 years of operation, Land O'Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including LAND O LAKES^® Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Land O'Lakes SUSTAIN. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O'Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minn.

SOURCE Land O’Lakes