NEBRASKA CITY – Nebraska City radio station B103 FM successfully tested a new Black Friday tradition Wednesday and plans to catapult apples into Hawkeye territory to mark the rivalry football game between Nebraska and Iowa on Nov. 27.

The Mead Lumber catapult was constructed by Dean Shissler, who pulled the trigger on four Nebraska City apples on the bank of the Missouri River. At least one made it off of the Nebraska shore.

 

B103 FM Program Director Marcus Lind called the test run a success and suggested that the catapult would be moved to higher ground at an undisclosed location for game day.

 

News Director Dan Swanson claims the catapult will soon be equipped with the “Shissler mechanism” that is intended to guide apples in the direction of Kinnick Stadium, where the Huskers and Hawkeyes are scheduled for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Black Friday.

The apple launch is in the spirit of Johnny Appleseed and Swanson called the dispersion of Nebraska apples into Iowa as an "all-out red" gift from Nebraska City.