RIVER FALLS – The annual UW-River Falls “bean soup” event took place Monda, Sept. 27 to kick off Homecoming Week on campus. Hosted by Chancellor Ambassadors and university Greek life organizations, the event takes place each year to honor Professor JP Jacobson who first hosted the event in 1917.

This year the event took place on the University Center Mall along with vaccination incentive speeches from Gov. Tony Evers and UW System President Tommy Thompson, to get festivities rolling.

Many students attended the event, one of the first events that are back in person this school year, after many events were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event has taken place for more than 100 years and the university was happy to reintroduce the tradition this year.

The infamous paddles that have the original bean soup recipe engraved on them are a staple of the event. They were used by Professor Thorvald Thoreson, who continued the annual tradition after Jacobson retired.

This event was the first event to kick off Homecoming Week at UW-River Falls, followed by the Border Battle Tug-o-War, medallion hunt, talent show and football game against UW-La Crosse.