OHIO — The plows are out with all the winter weather the Buckeye State has faced, but some may gain an artistic look before next season.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has opened its annual Paint-the-Plow for its northwest divisions for District 1 and District 2 area schools and vocational groups to take part in it. 

Applications are open until March 14 for 16 counties including: llen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Wyandot, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams and Wood counties. Applications for eligible schools have been distributed by ODOT.

Participating schools will receive plow blades between March 24 and May 2 with the winnders being announced ahead of Memorial Day, May 26.

The program allows students to paint an ODOT snowblade with, "a message of community or school spirit, Ohio pride, patriotism, or safety," ODOT said. The blades will be displayed at local community events before they go to work in winter operations. 

There were 26 schools in District 1's program last year with Riverdale, in Hancock County, winning the people's choice award and Paulding FFA Chapter earning the ODOT Choice Award, selected by ODOT District 1 employees.