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South Dakota: Key City Pen of 3 draws crowd, helps Sturgis FFA chapter

Alaina Mousel, Editor
Photo by Doug HoganPens of livestock, such as this, were on display during the 13th Annual Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show held Friday, Feb. 18, in Sturgis, SD. Area bull sales are picking up, too, with livestock sales scheduled every day in March.

Approximately 2,000 people took in the 13th Annual Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show on Friday, Feb. 18, in Sturgis, SD. A free-will donation taken during the lunch garnered more than $900 for the Sturgis High School FFA Chapter. The 11 a.m.-4 p.m. event dovetailed nicely into the Sturgis High School Rodeo Booster Club annual fundraiser held later that evening at the Loud American Roadhouse.

Part of the buzz at this year’s event was a new Chili/Stew Cook-off, which doubled as free lunch for attendees. Twenty-two chefs vied for top honors in two divisions.

“We’ve always had a free lunch, but this was the first year we had a Chili/Stew Cook-off. Visitors could come and sample different chilies and stews,” explained Breezy Millar, secretary for the Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show committee.



In the Booth portion of the Cook-off contest, which evaluated food and decoration, the awards were such: “Calamity Jane,” Most Original, went to Wells-Fargo; “John Wayne,” Best of Show, went to Maddie’s Catering; and “Doc Holliday,” Most Creative, went to the culinary arts class at Sturgis-Brown High School. In another division of the competition, this one judged solely on the meal, the “Best All-Around” award went to Sturgis High School FFA; “Tastiest” to Casteel Auction and Real Estate; and “Spiciest” to the City of Sturgis Community Development Department.

According to Duane Cunningham, Sturgis FFA advisor, donations from the Chili/Stew Cook-off raised $936 to benefit the local FFA chapter. Sturgis FFA also hosted a judging contest during the event, where they placed first and Newell FFA placed second.



Another new addition to the day’s event was a working dog demonstration provided by Billabong Border Collies of Nisland, SD.

Still, one of the major draws of the day was the display pens of cattle for visitors to peruse. Millar said the weather was good, and that area cattlemen took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their product. A total of 34 pens of cattle were on display, consisting of mainly yearling bulls and select groups of yearling heifers. While there weren’t a record-breaking number of pens on display, Millar said it was up from previous years.

“This is a good way to visit with past and current customers, as well as meet new customers,” she said.

One incentive for attendance is the “Bull Bucks” giveaway. Part of the registration fees for displaying pens of cattle is “given back” in the form of Bull Bucks, Millar explained. Seven Bull Bucks awards, in increments of $250, were given to: Mike Howie, Rick Oedekoven, Floyd Cammack, Raymond Howie, Heath Keffeler, Travis Ismay and Bill Munroe.

Bull Bucks work like this: If any one of these winners went to purchase an animal at a production sale from those who had cattle on display, $250 would be deducted from the price. Producers then turn the Bull Buck certificate in to the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce for reimbursement.

In addition to the pens of cattle on display, 71 home show exhibitors filled the Community Center’s gymnasium with products of interest to the agriculture crowd.

Approximately 2,000 people took in the 13th Annual Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show on Friday, Feb. 18, in Sturgis, SD. A free-will donation taken during the lunch garnered more than $900 for the Sturgis High School FFA Chapter. The 11 a.m.-4 p.m. event dovetailed nicely into the Sturgis High School Rodeo Booster Club annual fundraiser held later that evening at the Loud American Roadhouse.

Part of the buzz at this year’s event was a new Chili/Stew Cook-off, which doubled as free lunch for attendees. Twenty-two chefs vied for top honors in two divisions.

“We’ve always had a free lunch, but this was the first year we had a Chili/Stew Cook-off. Visitors could come and sample different chilies and stews,” explained Breezy Millar, secretary for the Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show committee.

In the Booth portion of the Cook-off contest, which evaluated food and decoration, the awards were such: “Calamity Jane,” Most Original, went to Wells-Fargo; “John Wayne,” Best of Show, went to Maddie’s Catering; and “Doc Holliday,” Most Creative, went to the culinary arts class at Sturgis-Brown High School. In another division of the competition, this one judged solely on the meal, the “Best All-Around” award went to Sturgis High School FFA; “Tastiest” to Casteel Auction and Real Estate; and “Spiciest” to the City of Sturgis Community Development Department.

According to Duane Cunningham, Sturgis FFA advisor, donations from the Chili/Stew Cook-off raised $936 to benefit the local FFA chapter. Sturgis FFA also hosted a judging contest during the event, where they placed first and Newell FFA placed second.

Another new addition to the day’s event was a working dog demonstration provided by Billabong Border Collies of Nisland, SD.

Still, one of the major draws of the day was the display pens of cattle for visitors to peruse. Millar said the weather was good, and that area cattlemen took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their product. A total of 34 pens of cattle were on display, consisting of mainly yearling bulls and select groups of yearling heifers. While there weren’t a record-breaking number of pens on display, Millar said it was up from previous years.

“This is a good way to visit with past and current customers, as well as meet new customers,” she said.

One incentive for attendance is the “Bull Bucks” giveaway. Part of the registration fees for displaying pens of cattle is “given back” in the form of Bull Bucks, Millar explained. Seven Bull Bucks awards, in increments of $250, were given to: Mike Howie, Rick Oedekoven, Floyd Cammack, Raymond Howie, Heath Keffeler, Travis Ismay and Bill Munroe.

Bull Bucks work like this: If any one of these winners went to purchase an animal at a production sale from those who had cattle on display, $250 would be deducted from the price. Producers then turn the Bull Buck certificate in to the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce for reimbursement.

In addition to the pens of cattle on display, 71 home show exhibitors filled the Community Center’s gymnasium with products of interest to the agriculture crowd.

Approximately 2,000 people took in the 13th Annual Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show on Friday, Feb. 18, in Sturgis, SD. A free-will donation taken during the lunch garnered more than $900 for the Sturgis High School FFA Chapter. The 11 a.m.-4 p.m. event dovetailed nicely into the Sturgis High School Rodeo Booster Club annual fundraiser held later that evening at the Loud American Roadhouse.

Part of the buzz at this year’s event was a new Chili/Stew Cook-off, which doubled as free lunch for attendees. Twenty-two chefs vied for top honors in two divisions.

“We’ve always had a free lunch, but this was the first year we had a Chili/Stew Cook-off. Visitors could come and sample different chilies and stews,” explained Breezy Millar, secretary for the Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show committee.

In the Booth portion of the Cook-off contest, which evaluated food and decoration, the awards were such: “Calamity Jane,” Most Original, went to Wells-Fargo; “John Wayne,” Best of Show, went to Maddie’s Catering; and “Doc Holliday,” Most Creative, went to the culinary arts class at Sturgis-Brown High School. In another division of the competition, this one judged solely on the meal, the “Best All-Around” award went to Sturgis High School FFA; “Tastiest” to Casteel Auction and Real Estate; and “Spiciest” to the City of Sturgis Community Development Department.

According to Duane Cunningham, Sturgis FFA advisor, donations from the Chili/Stew Cook-off raised $936 to benefit the local FFA chapter. Sturgis FFA also hosted a judging contest during the event, where they placed first and Newell FFA placed second.

Another new addition to the day’s event was a working dog demonstration provided by Billabong Border Collies of Nisland, SD.

Still, one of the major draws of the day was the display pens of cattle for visitors to peruse. Millar said the weather was good, and that area cattlemen took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their product. A total of 34 pens of cattle were on display, consisting of mainly yearling bulls and select groups of yearling heifers. While there weren’t a record-breaking number of pens on display, Millar said it was up from previous years.

“This is a good way to visit with past and current customers, as well as meet new customers,” she said.

One incentive for attendance is the “Bull Bucks” giveaway. Part of the registration fees for displaying pens of cattle is “given back” in the form of Bull Bucks, Millar explained. Seven Bull Bucks awards, in increments of $250, were given to: Mike Howie, Rick Oedekoven, Floyd Cammack, Raymond Howie, Heath Keffeler, Travis Ismay and Bill Munroe.

Bull Bucks work like this: If any one of these winners went to purchase an animal at a production sale from those who had cattle on display, $250 would be deducted from the price. Producers then turn the Bull Buck certificate in to the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce for reimbursement.

In addition to the pens of cattle on display, 71 home show exhibitors filled the Community Center’s gymnasium with products of interest to the agriculture crowd.

Approximately 2,000 people took in the 13th Annual Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show on Friday, Feb. 18, in Sturgis, SD. A free-will donation taken during the lunch garnered more than $900 for the Sturgis High School FFA Chapter. The 11 a.m.-4 p.m. event dovetailed nicely into the Sturgis High School Rodeo Booster Club annual fundraiser held later that evening at the Loud American Roadhouse.

Part of the buzz at this year’s event was a new Chili/Stew Cook-off, which doubled as free lunch for attendees. Twenty-two chefs vied for top honors in two divisions.

“We’ve always had a free lunch, but this was the first year we had a Chili/Stew Cook-off. Visitors could come and sample different chilies and stews,” explained Breezy Millar, secretary for the Key City Pen of 3 Ag and Home Show committee.

In the Booth portion of the Cook-off contest, which evaluated food and decoration, the awards were such: “Calamity Jane,” Most Original, went to Wells-Fargo; “John Wayne,” Best of Show, went to Maddie’s Catering; and “Doc Holliday,” Most Creative, went to the culinary arts class at Sturgis-Brown High School. In another division of the competition, this one judged solely on the meal, the “Best All-Around” award went to Sturgis High School FFA; “Tastiest” to Casteel Auction and Real Estate; and “Spiciest” to the City of Sturgis Community Development Department.

According to Duane Cunningham, Sturgis FFA advisor, donations from the Chili/Stew Cook-off raised $936 to benefit the local FFA chapter. Sturgis FFA also hosted a judging contest during the event, where they placed first and Newell FFA placed second.

Another new addition to the day’s event was a working dog demonstration provided by Billabong Border Collies of Nisland, SD.

Still, one of the major draws of the day was the display pens of cattle for visitors to peruse. Millar said the weather was good, and that area cattlemen took advantage of the opportunity to showcase their product. A total of 34 pens of cattle were on display, consisting of mainly yearling bulls and select groups of yearling heifers. While there weren’t a record-breaking number of pens on display, Millar said it was up from previous years.

“This is a good way to visit with past and current customers, as well as meet new customers,” she said.

One incentive for attendance is the “Bull Bucks” giveaway. Part of the registration fees for displaying pens of cattle is “given back” in the form of Bull Bucks, Millar explained. Seven Bull Bucks awards, in increments of $250, were given to: Mike Howie, Rick Oedekoven, Floyd Cammack, Raymond Howie, Heath Keffeler, Travis Ismay and Bill Munroe.

Bull Bucks work like this: If any one of these winners went to purchase an animal at a production sale from those who had cattle on display, $250 would be deducted from the price. Producers then turn the Bull Buck certificate in to the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce for reimbursement.

In addition to the pens of cattle on display, 71 home show exhibitors filled the Community Center’s gymnasium with products of interest to the agriculture crowd.