FARGO, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Little International Livestock Show is the largest student-sponsored event on the NDSU campus involving over 300 students. The show features showmanship classes of beef, dairy, sheep, and swine as well as ham curing and public speaking February 12th & 13th.
The Little International also honors an Agriculturist of the Year; this position commemorates an individual who has not only excelled but also contributed substantially to the agriculture industry.
Tickets: Hall of Fame Banquet: Student-$10.00 General-$15.00 Showmanship Events: Morning Show-Free of charge Night Show-$5.00 Location: Sanctuary Event Center–Banquet Shepperd Arena Livestock Show.
Agriculturalist of the Year Julie Ellingson is an avid advocate for agriculture. She was raised on her family’s 4th generation cattle operation near St. Anthony, ND. Growing up she gained a strong passion for agriculture, natural resources and stewardship of God’s creations. She was the 4th oldest out of six children. As she grew up, she was involved with daily ranch operations, FFA and 4-H. She showed cattle growing up and judged livestock in both organizations. She was elected ND FFA Sweetheart and was a ND State FFA Officer. She attended North Dakota State University in Mass Communications. She found a love for journalism and editing papers. While on campus she was a student she was in Saddle and Sirloin, on the dairy judging team, and communication groups. After College, she returned home married her husband Chad. They now have five children together and run Ellingson Angus together. Ellingson Angus is a successful Registered Angus herd, which has been family ran since the time it was founded. Julie works alongside her husband and children and also is the Executive Vice President of the North Dakota Stockman’s Association (NDSA). Julie started at NDSA as their communications director in 1998. She became executive VP eleven years ago. This position has allowed her to advocate for agriculture every day. She is one of the most respected women at the capital when she goes to bat for our producer’s way of life. She is responsible to make sure that the association is run smoothly and has a great representation of the cattle industry. On top of this when she first came to NDSA as the communications director she started the NDSA magazine which hits the mailbox of over 1500 members each month. Most of her board members will tell you they do not know how she has the time in her day to get everything done and do it to uphold the industry in the highest regard. She credits all of her success to hard work and the people who pushed her to believe in herself to unseen her full potential. Beyond, the ranch and NDSA Julie is very involved in organizations she holds dear to her heart. She is very involved in her church as she is a woman of faith. She gives her time and dedication to youth, from 4-H, FFA and NDSA mentoring program. She believes that the next generation will take us to new and extraordinary places. She believes in the importance to speak our truth in order to close the gap between producers, consumers and industry leaders. She believes it is her responsibility to inspire the next generation of agriculturists and help guide them on to their path. Julie has led by example what it means to speak our truth. She is one of the most passionate, caring, selfless, dedicated woman I know. She truly put the story and news of agriculture first. I believe she is well deserving of this honor and will make a great addition to the hall of fame in Sheppard Arena.
Little “I” Royalty A long-standing tradition of North Dakota State University’s Saddle & Sirloin Club is to crown highly qualified royalty to be the faces and voices of the largest student run event on campus, the Little International. The queen and her two Princesses serve as the club’s main public liaisons for the Little “I” stock show. This Position is an extreme honor and a very important part of the Little International.Every year, the club selects 3 club members as Little “I” royalty to represent the club and promote the event. The queen and two princesses take part in several publicity events leading up too Little “I”.
The following is an interview with Little International Manager Kadey Holm and Queen Samantha Pernsteiner.
The 95th Little International Queen is Samantha Pernsteiner. She is the daughter of Jim and Lisa Pernsteiner, of Ellendale, ND. She is a senior majoring in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Animal Science. Princess Annabelle Hardwick is a senior majoring University Studies with an emphasis/minor in Ag Business, Animal Science, and History. She is from Mantorville, MN and is the daughter of Mike and Jane Hardwick. Princess Maddie Patterson is from Kenyon, MN, and is the daughter of Mike and Rebekah Patterson. She is a senior majoring in Agricultural Communication with a minor in Animal Science. Sitting in front:Queen Samantha Pernsteiner Standing in back from left to right:Princess Annabelle Hardwick and Princess Maddie Patterson.
95th Little “I” Schedule of Events – Public Speaking Contest Shepperd Arena February 12th, 2021 8:00 a.m. 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging Contest Shepperd Arena 8:00 a.m. Hippology Contest Horse Park 8:30 a.m. FFA Agriculture Sales Contest Memorial Union 9:00 a.m. 4-H and FFA Crops Judging Contest Bison Sports Arena 9:30 a.m. FFA Small Animal Care Contest Memorial Union 2:00 p.m. Contest Awards Shepperd Arena 5:00 p.m. Hall of Fame Social Sanctuary Event Center 6:00 p.m. Hall of Fame Banquet/Meal Sanctuary Event Center February 13th, 2021 8:00 a.m. Showmanship Preliminaries Shepperd Arena 8:00 a.m. Photo Competition Display Shepperd Arena 9:00 a.m. Ag Engineering Show Ag Engineering Building 5:30 p.m. Showmanship Finals Shepperd Arena.
NDSU Saddle and Sirloin Club and the Little International Background:
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 following year, due to war conditions, the club became inactive. The Saddle and Sirloin Club was reorganized under new constitution in February of 1922. Every year since, the club has presented its Little International Shows. They are patterned after the International Livestock show that was held in Chicago. However, there is one major difference. Little “I” is a contest in showmanship. It is about how well the exhibitor presents their animal, not on quality of the particular animals. Every year for the Little International, S&S chooses an outstanding individual that exemplifies what it means to be a productive and influential member of the agriculturally community. That person is the Agriculturist of the Year, and he or she is honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet held during the Little International. His or her portrait is put on display in the Hall of Fame Gallery in Shepperd Arena. The Little International is primarily a livestock show, but there is so much more that goes into this production. 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. It takes the entire club to make this production a reality. There is a committee for every detail of the show. There are committees ranging from publicity to concessions. The work that is put into this event is unmatched by any other organization on campus.
Each year, Little “I” continues to thrive and inspire contestants as well as the attendees alike. The Little International is a production filled with pride and a sense of tradition that will continue for many years to come.
