Local Ties Found at 96th Annual Little International Event

  • Posted By: Warren Abrahamson
  • February 10, 2022 @ 5:00 am
  • News
hope-willson-and-princesses

L to R: Princess Brooke Kunz, Queen Hope Willson, and Princess Joy Dahlen. Photo: NDSU Saddle & Sirloin

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – For 95 years, the Little International Livestock Show has continued to remain the largest student-sponsored event on the NDSU campus.

The event involves over 300 students and features showmanship classes of beef, dairy, sheep, and swine as well as ham curing and public speaking.

Ashlyn Dilley is the manager for the event. She added they’ll also recognize their Agriculturist of the Year, which commemorates an individual who has not only excelled but also contributed substantially to the agriculture industry.

2022 Agriculturalist of the Year

Jackie Buckley has been involved in almost every facet of agriculture, growing up on a Registered Hereford farm/ranch operation in western North Dakota near Belfield where she was the oldest of 5 girls.

“Jackie has been involved and held leadership roles in numerous organizations in North Dakota,” the Saddle and Sirloin committee states. “She was a member of the Morton County Weed Board, Bismarck/Mandan Ag Chamber Committee, Morton County Crop Improvement Association, ND Living Ag Classroom Committee and a coach to the Morton County 4-H and Mandan FFA livestock Judging Teams. These positions are only a fraction of the list she can add up.”

Buckley has two children, Jack of Carrington, ND and Jerry of Ada, MN.

Royalty will also be present this year. Wimbledon-native Hope Willson was tapped to lead as the 96th Little “I” Queen at the event.

She added having the Queen title has allowed her to grow different skills and promote Agriculture in a different way.

Willson is a junior majoring in Animal Science at North Dakota State University with a minor in Crop and Weed Science. She is the daughter of Joel and Kristi Willson of Wimbledon.

Willson is joined by Brooke Kunz and Gwen Dahlen, who will serve as princesses for the event.

The NDSU Saddle and Sirloin Club was organized on March 15, 1918, under the direction of J.H. Shepperd, through the efforts of the livestock team that represented NDSU at the international Judging contest in Chicago.

Those involved believed there was a need for an organization that would spark a greater interest in animal husbandry at NDSU.

The Little International is primarily a livestock show, but there is so much more that goes into this production,” the committee says. “There is a contest in each species including: Swine, Sheep, Dairy, and Beef Cattle. Little “I” also includes a speech competition that has to relate to both the Little International theme and agriculture, and there is also a ham curing competition. In the past, the club has also shown horses and had a lamb lead competition. ”

For more information, like the NDSU Saddle & Sirloin page on Facebook.

Listen to a full Let’s Talk About It with Ashlyn Dilley and Hope Willson below:

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