Animal Science Students
Participating in the many activities sponsored by the Department of Animal Science is a great way to make friendships and develop communication and problem-solving skills. Faculty and staff within the Department are very supportive and encourage students to become involved in judging teams and other activities to gain real-world experience.
Student Clubs and Organizations
The Block and Bride Club is an organization for college students who are interested in animal agriculture. Although members are primarily Animal Science majors and minors, there are members from other areas in agriculture and other fields. Block and Bridle is one of the largest clubs in the CAFES. The only prerequisite for membership is to be interested in livestock.
The Horse Club at SDSU works to promote the equine industry to SDSU students, the Brookings community and across the entire state of South Dakota. The club consists of approximately 40 active members who host a variety of activities both on and off the campus. Students are encouraged to become engaged with events such as trail rides, the Hobo Day float, Campus Ag Day, Equine Clinics and our annual Petting Zoo. All students are encouraged to join no matter what level of horse experience they have had in the past.
Judging teams members receive not only receive valuable judging experiences, but also training in areas of decision-making and oral and written communication.
Little International is a two-day agricultural exposition planned, organized and implemented by students at 葫芦影业 for the benefit of high school and college students. Little International is considered the largest two-day agricultural exposition in the country. The exposition provides students with an opportunity to compete in judging contests, showmanship competitions and fitting challenges.
The Rodeo Club was started in 1952 for students who have an interest in rodeo. Currently the Rodeo Club has an average of 50 competing team members that travel over 3000 miles per year representing SDSU in the Great Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. With over 1200 Rodeo Club alumni, there are many who have never competed but have helped support the team at the Jackrabbit Stampede home rodeo, the Buckles and Bling Rodeo Team fundraiser, the Hobo Day Parade, with rodeo stock chores, and at rodeo team practices. If you have interest in supporting the rodeo team but do not compete yourself, please join the Rodeo Club and be a part of over 65 years of rodeo tradition at SDSU!
The students in this organization are involved in a variety of swine-centered activities including service to the South Dakota Pork Producers Association and participation in field trips to area swine producers and the allied industry. They also serve as assistants while research trials are being conducted at the SDSU Research and Teaching Swine Unit.
Teams of students compete in this four-part contest consisting of a quiz bowl, oral presentation, lab practical and written exam. Winners of the local contest travel to Des Moines, IA to compete in a regional event and participate in the American Society of Animal Science Midwest meetings.
The spring semester each year includes several international travel classes.
Check the for current and upcoming travel courses.
2024 Australia Class
- with Dr. Julie Walker and Dr. Rosemarie Nold.
2024 Vietnam Ag Class
- with Dr. Bob Thaler.
Past Trips
- - Blog for the Spring 2023 class trip on May 9-25, 2023.
- - This is the Spring 2023 class for May 8-22, 2023.
- - Blog documents a class trip to the west coast of the U.S. for May 10-21, 2022.
- - This blog follows a trip March 11-20, 2022.
- - This blog follows a trip May 5-21, 2019.
- - This blog follows a class trip May 6-20, 2019.
- - This blog covers the class trip to South Africa starting Feb. 28 and returning on March 10, 2019.
- - This blog covers our class trip to Australia May 13-23, 2018.
- - This blog chronicles our class trip to China May 8-21, 2017.
- - This blog chronicles our class trip to New Zealand May 7-23, 2017.
- - This blog chronicles our class trip to South Africa from March 3-12, 2017.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to China.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to Australia.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to to Argentina during 2015 Christmas Break.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to New Zealand.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to China. View the , and blogs to see what our students did then in China.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to Vietnam/Cambodia.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to Australia.
- - This blog follows SDSU students on a study trip to Argentina.
Although not required for animal science majors, internships are required for the equine studies and meat science minors. Many students complete summer learning and work experiences in industry that are not for university credit. Students that complete internships for credit participate in an annual poster event where they share their experience.
Internship Credit
Internships can be taken for one to four credits through the Department of Animal Science. Internship credits will meet the Experiential Learning Requirement for undergraduate degrees in animal science, regardless of specialization. However, credit will not be available retroactively.
- Carmen Paulson is the internship coordinator for equine related internships.
- Cody Wright is the internship coordinator for other animal science internships.
