There has been recent discussion among both Iowa State and Kansas State fans and alumni that the annual football game should add a traveling trophy to improve the budding rivalry between the two institutions, particularly after the game was moved to Arrowhead Stadium.

KSU and ISU are very similar universities in culture and have parallel backgrounds and opinions. Both schools have a large emphasis on agriculture and have largely contributed to the world and scientific community as a whole. A potential traveling trophy between the schools could add to the connection between Manhattan and Ames, especially if the trophy was based around agricultural. Among fans, the game has been called “Farmageddon.” An appropriate title that could potentially have the trophy be a plow, windmill, tractor or another symbol of agriculture that could be designed by students of the two schools.

The loss of two members of the Big 12 conference is also a loss of rivals. A new trophy between KSU and ISU schools could add tradition to both schools as well as improve conference unity. Several other BCS teams have added trophies in the last decade, especially in the light of conference realignment. Boston College and Clemson added the O'Rourke-McFadden Trophy in 2008 in the wake of ACC realignment. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati added the Paddlewheel Trophy in 2005 after Big East realignment.

Our friends to the East, Iowa and Wisconsin, also added the Heartland Trophy in 2004. The Iowa and Wisconsin trophy is very similar to a potential ISU and KSU trophy, due to the teams having played for over 100 years before a traveling trophy was added to the game.

A new trophy for the ISU and KSU series is an interesting idea and one I hope you take into consideration.

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