“A handy tool for Judging Livestock”
This “shooting stick”, a folding chair crossed with a walking stick, was used by Hilton M. Briggs for livestock judging. Made in England under the brand Gamebird Trademark, it consists of a steel rod with a round piece on the bottom and a leather seat on the top. The handle folds out into the seat. Hilton M. Briggs served as the president of South Dakota State University from 1957 to 1975, the longest tenure of a president to date. His time as president is known for its growth, as enrollment was increased by 50%. Born in the upper Midwest, and ever the supporter of agriculture, Briggs exhibits corn in a field in the photograph. Briggs, an expert in livestock judging, wrote a textbook, Modern Breeds of Livestock. As a tribute to his outstanding work, Hilton M. Briggs Library bears his name.