SDSU Little International marks 103 years of agricultural excellence

Story by Mallory Drake

South Dakota State University invites the public to the 103rd Little International, March 27-28, at the Animal Science Arena in Brookings.

As the nation's largest two-day student-run agricultural exposition in the nation, the event offers high school and college students the chance to exhibit livestock and participate in a variety of judging contests.

This year’s theme, “Honoring Tradition, Showcasing Excellence,” celebrates the legacy of Little International while recognizing the passion, skill and leadership today’s youth bring to the agriculture industry.

Cassidy Strommen, a senior studying agricultural communications from Solen, North Dakota, serves as this year’s Little “I” manager.

“We are thrilled to carry on this long-standing tradition at SDSU,” Strommen said. “Our mission is to educate students about agricultural practices, and I’m excited to see the camaraderie and dedication shine at this year’s event.”

Ahead of the weekend’s main activities, collegiate team fitting contests will take place on Wednesday, March 25, where students work in teams to groom and fit a goat or beef heifer of their choosing. Teams will be evaluated based on the overall presentation of the animal, among other criteria.

On Friday, March 27, around 2,000 FFA and 4-H members will gather on campus to compete in 13 different career development events. These contests test students’ knowledge and skills in a variety of agriculture-related disciplines that mirror real-world career paths, such as agronomy and veterinary science.

Collegiate fitting preliminaries run concurrently, starting at 9:30 a.m. and continuing into the early afternoon. Opening ceremonies begin at 5 p.m., followed by collegiate fitting finals and showmanship prelims.

The action continues Saturday, March 28, with additional showmanship rounds and more. The Red Barn Reception will take place from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, where Glenn Muller, executive director of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, will be recognized as the 2026 Honored Agriculturalist. During the same time, the Equine Teaching Facility, located at 1423 Medary Ave., will host an open house to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the horse barn. Tours will be offered for those interested in learning more about its history and role in equine education.

The day then transitions into the evening program, with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m., followed by showmanship finals and round robin, where the top showman in each of the livestock species competes for the overall showman award.

Following the awards ceremony, attendees are welcome to attend a 10 p.m. concert at the Dacotah Bank Center featuring Randy Burghardt. Tickets are $10 and available for purchase at the gate.

Livestreaming will be available via Walton Webcasting on the SDSU Little International Facebook page. More information and a full schedule can be found on the Little International website.

About Little International

South Dakota State University’s Little International began on campus in 1921 and was modeled after the International Livestock Show during the 20th century in Chicago. Since its inception, SDSU’s Little “I” has established a rich tradition of legacy and learning. Little International is the largest two-day student-run livestock exhibition in the nation. The event allows students to gain skills in showmanship, animal husbandry and agriculture-based career paths. In addition to showing livestock, students may participate in wool judging, meats judging, dairy product creation and more. For more information, visit the Little International website.