The long-standing tradition of the annual lawn display competition has added a competitive edge to the festivities of Homecoming Week and spiced up the front yards of fraternity houses.

“It’s a great year for both banners and displays,” said Steve Bertling, Homecoming Central Displays coordinator. “I encourage everyone to get out there and see all the work that was put into them.”

Preparation for the building of the nine displays began last spring when each of the nine largest fraternities teamed with a smaller fraternity.

These pairings were then extended to include a sorority, said Bertling, senior in chemical engineering.

The fraternity pairings serenaded the sorority of their choice to persuade the women of the sorority to join their team.

Each group worked together to raise money and collect donations from community organizations, alumni, families and house funds to assist in the building of the displays.

Groups paid a $55 fee, submitted written descriptions and sketches and called in patents to Homecoming Central Committee members Sept. 5 to be approved before work was begun. Physical labor began on Sept. 11 and ended this morning at 10.

Although lawn displays in past years have been vandalized, there has been no extensive damage to this year’s displays besides parts being tipped over, said Josh Olson, Homecoming Central Displays Coordinator.

Each group was required to provide their own security, but lists of security tips were e-mailed to the teams, which included leaving outside lights on at night, leaving blinds open, and when people are awake, having them stand near the display, said Olson, senior in horticulture.

At noon today, the judging panel, made up of ISU faculty and Ames community members, including Ames mayor Ted Tedesco, will critique the displays based upon criteria set by the Homecoming Central Committee.

Criteria included compliance to the homecoming theme, “Exploring Our Cyclone Family Pride,” overall appearance, originality and representation of Iowa State.

The panel will choose the top five displays to qualify for the second round of judging.

“This year we created a second judging on Saturday before the game to increase the involvement of people from the community, as well as other people in town for the game,” Olson said.

The second round of judging will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday. A community tour will meet at 8:45 a.m. at the ticket counter of Stephens Auditorium and proceed with the judges and committee members to see the top five displays.

“We are focusing the tour on bringing together the students, alumni, staff, families and community of Ames to see all the hard work that was put into these displays,” Olson said.