Although they have the majority of the floats in the Veishea parade, ISU fraternities and sororities aren’t the only groups that have been consistently featured in the event.

Two residence halls, Noble House and MacDonald House, are planning to build floats for this spring’s Veishea parade.

Noble House of Lower Friley Hall has long been a mainstay in the Veishea parade, representing the residence halls for more than 30 years.

“We have been building for 33 years consistently,” said Andy Klobnock, member of the Noble House Float Committee. “But some years have been better than others.”

MacDonald House of South Helser Hall is in its third year of participating in the Veishea parade. Last year, it was the winner of the People’s Choice Award, an honor given to the spectators’ favorite float.

“It’s another way to get involved with Veishea,” said Jayson Koopmans, president of MacDonald House.

Veishea co-chair Justin Chesnut said he thinks it is great to get involvement from the residence halls.

“It is a start in the right direction to getting more organizations involved with Veishea,” said Chesnut, senior in agricultural systems technology.

Chesnut said the leadership and example Nobel House has provided by being an integral part of the Veishea celebration is “something we can take great pride in.”

Steve Speirs, resident assistant for Noble House, said he likes the leadership positions and the opportunities that arise while working on a Veishea float.

“People can get involved in a wide range of activities,” said Speirs, senior in mathematics.

Speirs said building a float lets the residents on his floor spend time together and get to know one another.

“A lot of funny things happen while you’re out there,” he said. “It’s a good bonding experience.”

Klobnock, sophomore in pre-professional health programs, said Noble House struggles to get people to work on the float.

“We do not get people here for four to five years at a time like a fraternity,” he said. “It’s tougher, but we still have a good time.”

Last year, Klobnock said Noble House had about 800 hours put into its float, but only two or three residents were consistently there.

“This year, we’ve got a good 10 to 15 guys, and we’re hoping to turn things around,” he said.

Klobnock said they hope to clock 1,500 to 2,000 hours this year.

MacDonald House does its work hours on a volunteer basis, said Koopmans, sophomore in agricultural business. Right now, residents have most of their plans done but are working on getting money.

“We have a couple of ideas to get finalized,” he said.

To pay for their floats, the floors ask the Union Drive Association for financing, use available money from their floors and ask businesses to sponsor them.

Since neither floor can store the floats in the residence halls, students must find a place where the floats can be worked on and stored.

MacDonald House uses Clyde Black & Son Inc., 26107 530 Ave., which is about three miles south of Ames. Noble House has been using Howe Welding & Metal Fab, 811 S. Duff Ave., since it started building 33 years ago.

Klobnock said Noble House’s patent was finalized a couple weeks ago, and floor members can start building Friday.

Koopmans said he expects the supplies for MacDonald House’s float to be in within the next couple of weeks.