Category: Events
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Upper Midwest Locate Rodeo Returns October 8, 2026
The 2026 Upper Midwest Locate Rodeo, hosted by the Minnesota Common Ground Alliance (MNCGA), brings utility locating professionals from across the region together for a day of skill, knowledge, teamwork, networking, and damage prevention. Taking place on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Xcel Training Facility in Hugo, Minnesota, the event gives both new and experienced locators…
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Minnesota’s 811 On a (Yard)stick
Gopher State One Call (GSOC), also known as Minnesota’s 811, was back at the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 2026! We were back in the Blue Flame Gas Association Building handing out our infamous yardsticks, spinning the APWA color code wheel, and talking to fairgoers about everything safe digging. In addition to the contact 811 before you dig…
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August 11 is 8/11 Day: A Reminder for Minnesota Residents to Call 811 Before Digging
A simple call can protect your property, your community, and the utilities you rely on every day. August 11 (8/11) serves as an important reminder for Minnesota homeowners, contractors, and professionals: always contact 811 before starting any digging project. Whether you’re planting a tree, installing a mailbox, building a deck, or beginning a large construction project, contacting…
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Minnesota’s 2026 Damage Prevention Meetings
Spring 2026 presented another great season of damage prevention meetings all around Minnesota! Held by and for the excavation community, the annual meetings are highly anticipated and feature presentations by Gopher State One Call(GSOC) and the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) focused on topics important to the state’s industry stakeholders. This year’s meetings shifted the conversation towards new ticketing…
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Dig Smart This April: Five Ways to Keep Minnesota Safe During National Safe Digging Month
April is National Safe Digging Month, making it the perfect time to remind homeowners, renters, and DIYers across Minnesota that safe digging starts before the shovel ever hits the ground. Whether you’re planting a tree, building a deck, or tackling a larger home improvement project, underground utility lines are often closer to the surface than…
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Register Now: 2026 MN Damage Prevention Meetings
The 2026 Minnesota damage prevention meetings are in full swing! Every year, these free meetings are hosted around the state to provide the excavation community with a place to learn about new updates and best practices, connect with fellow industry members, and ask questions about safe digging. Registration is now open—see the instructions below to on how to…
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2026 GSOC Holiday Schedule
When submitting a locate request with Gopher State One Call, those digging need to consider the 48-hour waiting period that excludes the day of submission, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in their planning. Whether you submit a ticket online or by calling the GSOC center, the 48-hour period will begin at 12:01 a.m. the business day after the…
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Supporting Children’s Minnesota at the 2025 Day of the Dozers
Join GSOC at the Day of the Dozers, benefitting Children’s Minnesota, on Sept. 20, 2025, in Elk River.
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2025 811 5K Run/Walk: Community Event Promoting Underground Utility Safety
The 2025 811 5K Run/Walk resulted in another successful safe digging awareness event! More than 100 participants came together in Minneapolis to celebrate 811 Day on August 9, 2025, at Bde Maka Ska’s Thomas Beach to spread awareness of underground utility safety with a family friendly 5K, damage prevention-focused vendor fair, and popular Kids’ Race.…
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That’s a Wrap: 2025 MN Damage Prevention Meetings
Each spring, damage prevention meetings are held by and for the excavation community all around the Minnesota. Focused on safe digging and best practice education, these meetings typically include presentations from Gopher State One Call and the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety, as well as guest speakers from other MN damage prevention stakeholders. In 2025, damage…