SDSU Announces 100th Little International Award Winners

Brookings, S.D. – South Dakota State University hosted the centennial celebration of Little International from March 31- April 1 at the Animal Science Arena in Brookings. Little International, or “Little I,” is a two-day agricultural exposition planned, organized and implemented by SDSU students. Little “I” has a long tradition of providing 4-H, FFA and collegiate students with an opportunity to showcase their knowledge by competing in judging contests, livestock showmanship competitions and livestock fitting challenges.

This year, over 160 collegiate students competed in horse, sheep, lamb lead, goat, dairy, beef, and swine contests at this year’s event. Interested students who wanted to compete in Little International, attended the Livestock Drawing on February 8. Students indicated their species interest on registration cards, and then names were drawn and species were assigned to interested students. Dairy and beef species showmen were able to start working with their animals three weeks prior to the event, while the remaining species had two weeks in which to prepare for the competition. Exhibitors either showed in the novice or experienced category and all species, excluding swine, competed in fitting and showmanship contests.

Due to weather, all career development contests held for FFA and 4-H students were canceled, however, showmanship and fitting contests for collegiate students ran with an altered schedule due to campus closure at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Despite weather conditions, SDSU’s 164-student Little “I” staff worked tirelessly to ensure the event happened with few changes. To celebrate the 100th year, numerous events were added such as a Chili Cook-off, Alumni HighPoint Contest, and Alumni Round Robin. The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum held a joint exhibit opening and Little I Centennial social on April 1 to unveil the newest exhibit celebrating 100 Years of Little I. The social offered nearly 250 past and current Little I staff members, managers, participants and supporters an opportunity to reminisce about the event’s impact.

Results and awards from the collegiate contests are as follows:

Overall Awards:

High Point Club of the Year: Alpha Gamma Rho

Round Robin Champion: Makayla Nelson – Arlington, SD

Round Robin Reserve Champion and High Point Upperclassman: Emily Nold – Rutland, SD

High Point Freshman: Carter Howell – Lithia, FL

Alumni Awards:

High Point Alumni Champion: Krecia Leddy – Stockholm, SD

High Point Alumni Reserve Champion: Kaley Nolz, Mitchell, SD

Alumni Round Robin Champion: Ryan Franz – Bingham Lake, MN

Alumni Round Robin Reserve Champion: Clay Sunberg – Arlington, IL

Pete Pritchett Memorial Award:

Trevor Frost of Ashton, SD, received the Pete Pritchett Memorial Award. Frost has served on the executive committee the last two years and was this year’s Executive Equipment Member. He has played a key role in the assembly of the Animal Science Arena to prepare for the event, and worked diligently the week leading up to Little “I” to ensure everything was set up. The Pete Pritchett Memorial Award was established to recognize the countless hours invested and outstanding accomplishments of a Little “I” staff member. It is given in memory of Pritchett, the 1988 Little “I” livestock coordinator who was tragically killed in an auto accident that following summer.

Novice Beef Fitting Results:

1. Bryn Anderson – Jackson, MN
2. Jacob Chapman – Torrington, WY
3. Izzy O’Rourke – Wells, MN
4. Kaitlyn Freese – Fairmont, MN
5. Emma Hansel – Waverly, IA
6. Jacquelyn Wibstad – Arlington, MN

Experienced Beef Fitting Results:

1. Lucas Bjorklund – Henning, MN
2. Jaxon Schrag – Marion, SD
3. Grace Britton – Janesville, MN
4. Annie Rinke – Onley, TX
5. Riley Leeson – Hays, Alberta Canada
6. Dellana Muck – Caledonia, IL

Novice Sheep Fitting Results:

1. Sydney Sheffield – Winterset, IA
2. Cassidy Strommen – Solen, ND
3. Mikayla Thorson – Waverly, MN
4. Anastasia Poull – Port Washington, WI
5. Emily Matejka – Sherburn, MN

Experienced Sheep Fitting Results:

1. Zachary Schoelerman – Everly, IA
2. Emily Nold – Rutland, SD
3. Emma Heine – Vermillion, SD
4. Macy Grein – Wesley, IA
5. Jessica Kott – Kimball, SD
6. Brianna Duerre – Webster, SD

Experienced Horse Fitting Results:

1. Jaylnn Frandrup – Hastings, MN
2. Shelby Holmes – Sioux Falls, SD
3. Rachel Coudron – Milroy, MN
4. Anna Moser – Aberdeen, SD
5. Lauren Ballard – Waterville, WV
6. Dylan Zellman – Norwood Young America, MN

Novice Horse Fitting Results:

1. Alexis Stolicker – Box Elder, SD
2. Mauren Lewis – Sioux City, IA
3. Shelbi Patterson – Mayer, MN
4. Logan Helgoth – Garrison, NE
5. Isabella Raunich – San Francisco, CA
6. Sydney Lynch – Sioux Falls, SD

Novice Goat Fitting Results:

1. Jerson Kopka – Bird Island, MN
2. Larissa Sitzmann – LeMars, IA
3. Miles Hoffman – Leola, SD
4. Amanda Kelling – Pine Island, MN
5. Josie Jenson – Welch, MN
6. Emma Reicks – Palmer, IA

Experienced Goat Fitting Results:

1. Trevor Mente – Adrian, MN
2. Brayden Lachenmeier – Tappen, ND
3. Jerson Kopka – Bird Island, MN
4. Samantha Richert – Springfield, MN
5. Kayla Schmidt – Albert Lea, MN
6. Gracie Smith – Stratford, IA

Novice Dairy Fitting Results:

1. Drew Stock – Waukoa, IA
2. Tyler Leheska – Chamberlain, SD
3. Hadley Stiefvater – Salem, SD
4. Joey Rybinski – Ivanhoe, MN
5. Jenna Dougherty – Clear Water, MN
6. Hannah Braaten – Olivet, SD

Experienced Dairy Fitting Results:

1. Taylor Fester – Grove City, MN
2. Kelsey Erf – Oakdale, MN
3. Hailey Frericks – Albary, MN
4. Drew Stock – Waukoa, IA
5. Tyler Leheska – Chamberlain, SD
6. Zach Post – Volga, SD

Novice Horse Showmanship Results:

1. Alexis Stolicker – Box Elder, SD
2. Mauren Lewis – Sioux City, IA
3. Shelbi Patterson – Mayer, MN
4. Logan Helgoth – Garrison, NE
5. Isabella Radunich – San Francisco, CA
6. Sydney Lynch – Sioux Falls, SD

Experienced Horse Showmanship Results:

1. Rachel Coudron – Milroy, MN
2. Anna Moser – Aberdeen, SD
3. Alyssa Launsbach – Lakeville, MN
4. Shelby Holmes – Sioux Falls, SD
5. Dylan Zellmann – Norwood Young America, MN
6. Lauren Ballard – Waterville, WV

Experienced Sheep Showmanship Results:

1. Emily Nold – Rutland, SD
2. Zachary Schoelerman – Everly, IA
3. Brianna Duerre – Webster, SD
4. Jessica Kott – Kimball, SD
5. Abbie Steeke – Rhame, ND
6. Claire Ohlrichs – Merrill, IA

Novice Sheep Showmanship Results:

1. Cassidy Strommen – Solen, ND
2. Anastasia Poull – Port Washington, WI
3. Sydney Sheffield – Winterset, IA
4. Emily Matejka – Sherburn, MN
5. Mikayla Thorson – Waverly, MN
6. Jesade Siverson – Hendricks, MN

Experienced Beef Showmanship Results:

1. Lucas Bjorklund – Henning, MN
2. Jaxson Schrag – Marion, SD
3. Annie Rinke – Onley, TX
4. Jacob Chapman – Torrington, WY
5. Dellana Muck – Caledonia, IL
6. Riley Leeson – Hays, Alberta Canada

Novice Beef Showmanship Results:

1. Jacob Chapman – Torrington, WY
2. Bryn Anderson – Jackson, MN
3. Izzy O’Rourke – Wells, MN
4. Emma Hansel – Waverly, IA
5. Jacquelyn Wibstad – Arlington, MN
6. Kaitlyn Freese – Fairmont, MN

Experienced Goat Showmanship Results:

1. Brayden Lachenmeier – Tappen, ND
2. Gracie Smith – Stratford, IA
3. Kelsey Sweariger – Durham, CA
4. Kayla Schmidt – Albert Lea, MN
5. Claire Ohlrichs – Merrill, IA
6. Taylor Cattin – Dutton, MT

Novice Goat Showmanship Results:

1. Kelsey Swearinger – Durham, CA
2. Larissa Sitzmann – LeMars, IA
3. Miles Hoffman – Leola, SD
4. Jerson Kopka – Bird Island, MN
5. Rachel Groth – West Point, NE
6. Josie Jenson – Welch, MN

Experienced Swine Showmanship Results:

1. Makayla Nelson – Arlington, SD
2. Aubrey Kerkaert – Pipestone, MN
3. Carter Calmus – Howard, SD
4. Brenden Kroksh – Akron, IA
5. Lindsey Galbreath – Enderlin, ND
6. Korbin Leddy – Stockholm, SD

Novice Swine Showmanship Results:

1. Aubrey Van Briesen – Boyden, IA
2. Cole Bauer – Brownton, MN
3. Madisen Henley – Greeley, IA
4. Mackenzie Hanssen – Glenville, MN
5. Alexis Rahm – Turton, SD

Experienced Dairy Showmanship Results:

1. Kelsey Erf – Oakdale, MN
2. Jenna Dougherty – Clear Water, MN
3. Hailey Frericks – Albary, MN
4. Taylor Fester – Grove City, MN
5. Wesley Siira – Brandon, MN
6. Sophie Kyllonen – Sleepy Eye, MN

Novice Dairy Showmanship Results:

1.  Jenna Dougherty – Clear Water, MN
2. Hannah Flogstad – Donnelly, MN
3. Drew Stock – Waukoa, IA
4. Hadley Stiefvater – Salem, SD
5. Alyssa Launsbach – Lakeville, MN
6. Tyler Leheska – Chamberlain, SD

Lamb Lead Results:

1. Collegiate Cattleman’s: Emily Nold – Rutland, SD
2. Dairy Club: Claire Ohirichs – Merrill, IA
3. Sigma Alpha: Brianna Duerre – Webster, SD
4. Ag Education/FFA Alumni Club: Emily Matejka – Sherburn, MN
5. Collegiate Farm Bureau: Jessica Kott – Kimball, SD
6. Pre-Vet Club: Zachary Schoelermann – Everly, IA

Hardest Worker Awards:

Voted on by fellow exhibitors, the hardest worker awards are presented to the hardest working exhibitor in each species:

•   Beef Hardest Worker: Carter Sanny – Bondurant, IA

•   Lamb Lead Hardest Worker: Cassidy Strommen – Solen, ND

•   Sheep Hardest Worker: Sydney Sheffield – Winterset, IA

•   Horse Hardest Worker: Shelby Holmes – Sioux Falls, SD

•   Goat Hardest Worker: Jerson Kopka – Bird Island, MN

•   Dairy Hardest Worker: Sophie Kyllonen – Sleepy Eye, MN

•   Swine Hardest Worker: Mackenzie Hanssen – Glenville, MN

About SDSU Little International:

South Dakota State University’s Little International began on campus in 1921 and was modeled after the International Livestock Show that took place during the 20th Century in Chicago. Since its inception, SDSU’s Little “I” has established a rich tradition of legacy and learning. The event allows students to gain skills in livestock showmanship, animal husbandry and agriculture-based career paths. In addition to showing livestock, students may participate in wool judging, meats judging, dairy product creation, machinery sales and more. For a full list of events, visit sdsulittleinternational.com.