SD Agricultural Heritage Museum Blog

On March 1, 1940, this young man and his horse were awarded a ribbon. The ribbon is attached to the horse’s mane. In 1940, Little I was held in the Livestock Judging Pavilion, now the SD Agricultural Heritage Museum. In 1942, due to the growth of the show, Little I was moved from the Livestock Pavilion to the Gymnasium/Barn.

• Throwback Thursday

When Little I began in 1921 it was strictly a livestock exhibition. It was patterned after the Chicago International Livestock Exhibition. The purpose of the South Dakota State College Little I was to offer students experience with fitting, training and showing livestock. It also provided students with practical experience in management of agricultural shows. In 1921, the Little I staff consisted of 11 people. Between 1922 and 1924 there were improvements made to the show. The grain show, poultry show, agronomy, horticulture, meat cutting and wool judging were added. In 1949 the Home Economics division was added to the exposition.
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• What's New Wednesday

Little International, or “Little I” is the largest student run agricultural exposition in the country. It provides the opportunity for 4-H, FFA, and college students to compete in judging contests, showmanship events and fitting challenges. Little I has been held every year since 1921. There have been only four years when it was not held: 1926, during a scarlet fever outbreak, 1944-1945 because of World War II, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Little I was originally held in the Livestock Judging Pavilion, now the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. Today, it is held in the SDSU Animal Science Arena. The week prior to the exposition includes erecting the red barn and white fence, dying wood chips green for the show ring, setting up bleachers and making sure every committee task is done before the show begins.

This year Little International is celebrating its 100th exposition. On March 27, 2023, the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum is opening an exhibit celebrating Little International through the years. Visit the Museum and learn about all the fun and excitement of Little I! The Museum is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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• Throwback Thursday

Used during the first soil surveys of South Dakota, tools like this were used by the soil scientists who were mapping out South Dakota’s soil types. Written on the compass cover is “S.D. Soil Survey No. 1, 1923”
Joseph G. Hutton was a professor of Agronomy at South Dakota College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts from 1911 until his death in 1939. He became Professor of Agronomy in charge of Soil Investigations, which included conducting the first soil survey of South Dakota. He promoted soil and water stewardship by urging farmers to rotate crops and to incorporate organic material to keep the soil healthy as well as to terrace the land and plant cover crops to reduce soil erosion.
This beautiful compass has a wooden case and brass trim. The compass was made by the well know W & L.E. Gurley Brothers, Troy, NY. From 1821 until 1968 Gurley Brothers made all kinds of surveying, engineering, and optical equipment. In 1968, the Teledyne Corporation purchased W. & L.E. Gurley. In 1993, Teledyne sold Gurley and the company is now Gurley Precision Instruments.
The exhibit Drowning in Dirt: Joseph Hutton and the Dust Bowl is opening at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum on February 27, 2023. Come visit the Museum and learn more about Professor Hutton’s work, the 1930s Dust Bowl and its effects on South Dakota.
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• What's New Wednesday

Due to the drop in value of commodities and wages, farm families may have had food but often lacked the cash for fuel, repairs of machinery and household items. Using a horse and wagon for travel became popular again. Farm wives made do with simple meals with food they raised like vegetables, eggs, milk and meat; purchasing only the bare necessities like flour, sugar, oatmeal and coffee. They mended their clothes, used feed and flour sacks to make new ones and altered second-hand clothes to fit.

• Throwback Thursday

This musical instrument is called an ocarina or vessel flute. They have been in use by humans for 12,000 years, or approximately 8,000 years before mammoths went extinct. This flute is found all over the world and can be made of stone, wood, clay, or coconut.

• What's New Wednesday

As early as 1911, Hutton began issuing warnings that the soil would not stand up to the abuse of intensive cultivation. Farming, he urged, “must be adapted to the soil and rainfall conditions for the area.” Not all land should be plowed but left for pasture.
Hutton documented with photographs the damaged done by drought and soil damage done by improper farming practices. His notes for this photo are: “Serial No. 33-126:- NE Corner of NE1/4 Sec. 36-112-64, Allen township. Arthur C. Stegeman Farm, Wolsey Area, South Dakota. Cattle eating oats on listed land. Blowing on this particular field was stopped by listing at right angles to the prevailing winds, but the sand from the neighboring Geister place is beginning to fill it in. Oats, listing and pigeon grass have stopped the blowing away of his land and the farmer is getting some returns by grazing cattle on it. (9/19/35)"
The exhibit Drowning in Dirt: Joseph Hutton and the Dust Bowl is opening at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum on February 27, 2023. Come visit the Museum and learn more about Professor Hutton’s work, the 1930s Dust Bowl and its effects on South Dakota.

• Throwback Thursday

This broadcast seeder was manufactured by Samuel S. Speicher's company "Cyclone" Seeder, Urbana, IN. Speicher founded his company in 1868 to produce seed sower and fertilizer spreaders. The canvas bag has a strap that loops over the operator's shoulder. The bag is held in front of the operator while they walk the field, they are planting. Turning the crank, the seed fly out of the bag to either side of the operator. The bag held approximately 1 peck of seed and the seeder came with a guide stapled to the wooden bottom of the device. The guide gave instructions on how to adjust the opening for different types of seed.

• What's New Wednesday

Black and white photo from the J.G. Hutton Collection showing an advancing sandbank burying Russian Thistle in front of an abandoned farmhouse. Typewritten caption below photo reads "Serial No.33- 127:- SW corner of SW1/4 Sec. 30-112-63. Lenna M. Jefferson Farm. Wolsey Area, South Dakota. Sand "drowning out" and killing Russian Thistle which grew up after spring blow had covered that part of the farm to a depth of one or more feet deep. The sand came in from the barren blowing area to the south (Geister place) and is again burying the farm; this time to a depth of about 4 feet in this place. The bank has already advanced about 100 feet from the fence and when this picture was taken (windy day) it could be seen to be advancing rapidly. Farm building abandoned. (9/19/35)".

The exhibit Drowning in Dirt: Joseph Hutton and the Dust Bowl is opening at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum on February 27, 2023. Come visit the Museum and learn more about Professor Hutton’s work, the 1930s Dust Bowl and its effects on South Dakota.

• Throwback Thursday

The history behind the manufacturing of Co-op tractors is complicated and moved all over the United States. This Co-op tractor No. 3 was made in 1948 and designed by Dent Parrett. Parrett is the designer of the No. 1, 2 and 3 Co-op tractors and worked for the Parrett Tractor Company in Chicago from 1913 to 1922 when the company went under.

• What's New Wednesday