South Dakota State University in Brooking is hosting the 99th SDSU Little International event at the campus’ Animal Science Arena this weekend (April 1-2, 2022). This year marks the first time in three years where all members of the public are allowed to attend the in-person event.
As the largest two-day, student-run agricultural exposition in the US, Little “I” has proven to be one of SDSU’s longest-standing traditions. The event, put on by 144 SDSU undergraduates, provides 4-H, FFA and college students with an opportunity to compete in judging contests, showmanship competitions and fitting challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the SDSU campus closure forced the cancellation of the 97th Little “I” in March 2020. A modified 98th annual event was held in 2021.
At this year’s event, over 170 collegiate students will compete in horse, sheep, lamb lead, goat, dairy, beef and swine events. Interested students attended a livestock drawing in February to receive the chance to show one of the available animals.
Dairy, horse and beef exhibitors are given three weeks prior to the event to start working with their animals, while all other species have two weeks to prepare for the show.
The weekend kicks off with 4-H and FFA contests today (April 1). Those contests will be followed by preliminary rounds of collegiate fitting, with fitting finals to commence following opening ceremonies at 5pm.
Tomorrow’s activities kick off with showmanship preliminaries and novice finals, followed by showmanship finals and round robin that evening.
In addition to livestock shows and contests, an alumni social will also be held on Saturday from 3-5pm at the Agricultural Heritage Museum on the SDSU campus. Saturday evening, Little “I” will recognize the late Don Marshall as the 99th Honored Agriculturalist.
For those interested in viewing the weekend’s activities online, livestream services provided by Walton Webcasting will be available via the SDSU Little International Facebook page. Links to livestreams will be posted immediately before each session at https://www.facebook.com/SDSULittleI.
For more information and the full event schedule, visit sdsulittleinternational.com.
Courtesy photo.
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