Content and photo courtesy of NDSU

 

North Dakota State University Saddle and Sirloin Club members will host the 94th Little International Feb. 14-15.

“The Little International livestock show is the largest student-run event on the NDSU campus, involving more than 300 students,” said Kadey Holm, an NDSU junior in Animal Sciences from Ashley, N.D., and Little I assistant manager. “The show features showmanship classes of beef, dairy, sheep and swine as well as ham curing and public speaking contests.

“The Little International also honors an Agriculturist of the Year – an individual who has excelled at and contributed substantially to the agriculture industry of North Dakota,” Holm said. 

This year’s Agriculturist of the Year is Ray Erbele of Streeter. Erbele will be recognized at the Feb. 14 Hall of Fame Banquet with a 5 p.m. social and 6 p.m. meal at the Avalon West Events Center.

Livestock showmanship preliminaries begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 15 in Shepperd Arena on the NDSU campus, and finals begin at 5:30 p.m.

“Audience members of the Little I show will be able to see this year’s theme, Speaking Our Truth, in action as club members have put in hours upon hours of hard work to make this year’s event happen,” Holm said. “Those attending will have a fun-filled evening cheering on exhibitors and will have the opportunity to participate in the ham curing auction, a 50/50 raffle and the silent auction.”