
71 years of ag tradition
Sponsored by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
The Sioux Empire Livestock Show promotes and celebrates agriculture through an annual, authentic experience that educates and entertains the community; assists youth exhibitors financially with academic endeavors; and generates economic impact through national livestock consignments and trade show opportunities.
The low down on the Sioux Empire Livestock Show
The annual Sioux Empire Livestock Show is a great way for South Dakota’s largest city to celebrate the state’s number one industry, while recognizing the vital impact of agriculture in our lives.
The five-day Show features six purebred cattle shows and sales, with a $12,000 purse (The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, First Bank & Trust and The Cattle Business Weekly) that is split between the consignors and the buyers of the Supreme Champion Bull and Heifer. The Sioux Empire Livestock Show also hosts a 4-H/FFA invitational calf show, junior shows including: market hog, market lamb, market goat, market beef, prospect calf, and breeding heifer shows, as well as livestock judging contests. Additionally, check out our commercial exhibits and don’t miss the Mayor’s Round-Up & Sale of Champions!
Purebred Cattle Shows & Sales
Interested in consigning a bull or heifer in the Sioux Empire Livestock Show Purebred Cattle Shows & Sales?
The Sioux Empire Livestock Show (SELS) is proud to feature the Purebred Cattle Show & Sale! New since 2021, we are welcoming an All Other Breeds (AOB) Show & Sale. If any breed consigns less than ten (10) head by the entry deadline, that breed will be transferred to the AOB Show & Sale.
View the Purebred Cattle Sale & Show Rules and Regulations














General Cattle Health Regulations:
A current, completed Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), listing individual animal official identification (official ear tag or registration tattoo accompanied by the registration certificate) must accompany all animals exhibited. The CVI must be issued within 30 days of entry. CVIs written for animals originating from outside the state of South Dakota must have a telephone import permit number listed on the certificate. Import permits are issued to the veterinarian completing the CVI and can be obtained by calling (605) 773-3321. Cattle originating from outside of the state may be subject to more requirements. Animal health import requirements can be found at http://aib.sd.gov/mainimport.html or call the SD Animal Industry Board at (605) 773-3321.
TRICHOMONIASIS: All non-virgin bulls must be tested negative within 30 days of the sale date. Approved testing methods include:
- One negative PCR test conducted on a preputial scraping sample.
- Three consecutive negative culture attempts of preputial scraping samples collected with a minimum of seven days between each collection.
The veterinarian issuing the CVI must certify that the bull has not bred since the start of the test and a copy of the test results must be attached to the CVI. Virgin bulls are exempt from testing. MAKE SURE IT IS STATED ON THE CERTIFICATE IF YOUR BULL(S) IS/ARE VIRGIN. Cattle must be free of any infectious, contagious, or communicable disease at the time of entry onto the Fairgrounds. If warts have been surgically removed, the scars must be healed by the time of exhibition. Semen check is required on all bulls 15 months of age, or older, as breed requires. We must have the DATES OF TESTS AND WHERE THEY WERE TESTED (name of lab and address) listed on CVI.
ALL INFORMATION MUST BE RECORDED ON THE CERTIFICATE OF VETERINARY INSPECTION TO ACCOMPANY THE ANIMALS ENTERED.
Supreme Row

$3,500 to consigner
$2,500 to buyer
of Supreme Champion Bull and Supreme Champion Heifer
On Wednesday evening, the Supreme Bull and Supreme Heifer will be announced at the Supreme Row Social. Enjoy light appetizers and beverages while socializing with cattlemen and cattlewomen from around the region. All Champions will be also featured in a presentation at the Sale of Champions on Friday evening. At least one representative of the Supreme Champions, either the consignor or the buyer, should attend the Mayor’s Round-Up and Sale of Champions dinner
Livestock Exhibitor Information
The Sioux Empire Livestock Show hosts purebred cattle shows and sales, 4-H/FFA invitational calf shows, and junior shows, including: breeding heifer, prospect calf, market beef, market goat, market lamb, and market hog shows. Visitors are encouraged to watch exhibitors compete free of charge.








Internship Opportunities
Because our mission is deeply rooted in education, the Sioux Empire Livestock Show offers three paid livestock internship positions. These hands-on internships provide students with experience in event management, logistics, communications and vendor relations. This internship includes countless opportunities for networking with ag industry professionals.
This paid internship is geared toward those applicants interested in learning how to work, manage, and execute livestock shows and sales. Interns will assist in execution of all areas of the Sioux Empire Livestock Show, which will be held January 23-28, 2024, at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building in Sioux Falls, SD.
Interns will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Help facilitate move-in/set-up and tear-down of the event
- Learn basics of ShoWorks software system to assist in show check-ins, as necessary
- Assist in working alongside volunteers and staff to execute all events/shows
- Answer exhibitors’ questions via phone, email and in the barn
- Gather, organize and process livestock paperwork, health papers and registration papers
- File, make copies and other miscellaneous office tasks
Internship Application Information
Contests
Entry Deadline & Fees
- Early online entries accepted through January 5th at a rate of $10 per contestant. Entries can be submitted here. More information can be found in the exhibitor handbook.
- Late entries accepted at check-in, with an additional late fee of $10 per individual contestant ($20 per contestant, if you register at check-in). ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS.
Rules and Regulations
- This is an individual contest. There will be NO TEAMS.
- The contest is open to youth/students who fit into the age divisions below. Contestants can only judge in the following age divisions:
- Age Divisions:
- Beginner: Age 8-10 on or before Jan. 1
- Junior: Age 11-13 on or before Jan. 1
- Senior: Age 14-18 on or before Jan. 1
Entry Deadline: | Jan. 5 | Online | |
Coaches Mtg./Check-In: | Jan. 27 | 6 p.m. | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building |
Contest: | Jan. 28 | 8 a.m. | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building |
Awards Presentation: | Jan. 28 | Following oral reasons | Southeast Technical College |
- Eligibility: Junior colleges and senior colleges in the U.S. are eligible to enter the Livestock Judging Contest. The entry form, however, must be signed by the official team coach, confirming that all members of the team are eligible to compete in the contest. Colleges can enter as many teams as they desire. To be considered eligible to compete, contestants must have attended full time at the school from which they are competing.
- Participation: Each Livestock Judging Team will consist of five (5) eligible members and all team scores will count in the team total. Each team member, along with individual participants/alternates, will be eligible for individual overall awards in their division.
- Divisions:
- Junior College – Freshman – Contestants entered in this division must be enrolled in a junior college and cannot compete in this division more than two years.
- Junior College – Sophomore – Contestants entered in this division must be enrolled in a junior college and cannot compete in this division more than two years.
- Senior College – Contestants must be enrolled in a senior college.
Entry Deadline January 19th
- Entries can be made by emailing bhendrickx@siouxfalls.com or sending a message to the SELS Facebook Messenger. Include; Lot number, Photo Name, Exhibitor Name, and Contact information.
- Lot Areas:
- Lot 1: Farm/Ranch Scene
- Lot 2: Show Season
- Lot 3: Farm Animals
- Lot 4: Generations on the Farm
- Late entries will not be accepted.
- Voting will take place on the SELS Facebook page from Sunday Jan. 21st – Saturday 27th.
Show Results
Purebred Cattle Show
& Sale Results
Open Livestock
Show Results
Judging Contest Results
Senior Collegiate Livestock
Judging Results
Junior Collegiate Livestock
Judging Results
Purebred Cattle Show
& Sale Results
Open Livestock
Show Results
Judging Contest Results
Senior Collegiate Livestock
Judging Results
Junior Collegiate Livestock
Judging Results
Purebred Cattle Show
& Sale Results
Open Livestock
Show Results
Judging Contest Results
Senior Collegiate Livestock
Judging Results
Junior Collegiate Livestock
Judging Results
2024 Schedule
Barn hours are 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily. Click here for a printable schedule. Schedule subject to change.
When | What | Where |
---|---|---|
Tuesday, January 23 | ||
1 - 3 p.m. | 4H/FFA Invitational Calf Show Check-In | Grand Falls Casino Ring |
4 - 5 p.m. | Purebred Consignors Meeting & Check-In | Northside of Expo Building |
4:30 p.m. | 71st Annual SELS Ribbon Cutting | Backdrop Area |
6 p.m. | 4-H/FFA Invitational Calf Show | Grand Falls Casino Ring |
Wednesday, January 24 | ||
8 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Purebred Cattle Shows | Big Country 92.5 KTWB Ring & Grand Falls Casino Ring |
9 a.m. | Trade Show Opens | Northside of Expo Building |
1 - 5 p.m. | Purebred Cattle Sales | Sale Ring |
4 - 6 p.m. | Junior Market Hog Check-In | Smithfield Foods Ring |
5 p.m. | Trade Show Closes | Northside of Expo Building |
6 p.m. | Supreme Row Judging | Big Country 92.5 KTWB Ring |
6:30 p.m. | Supreme Row Social | Sale Ring |
Thursday, January 25 | ||
8 a.m. | Junior Market Hog Show | Smithfield Foods Ring |
8 - 10 a.m. | Trade Show Opens | Northside of Expo Building |
8 a.m. | Junior Market Beef Check-In | Check-In Area |
1-3 p.m. | Junior Prospect Calf Check-In | Check-In Area |
2 - 3 p.m. | Junior Market Goat & Junior Market Lamb Check-In | Smithfield Foods Ring |
3 p.m. | Junior Market Beef Show | Big Country 92.5 KTWB Ring |
4 p.m. | Junior Market Goat Show | Smithfield Foods Ring |
6 p.m. | Junior Market Lamb Show | Smithfield Foods Ring |
6 p.m. | Trade Show Closes | North side of Expo Building |
Friday, January 26 | ||
8 a.m. | Junior Prospect Calf Show | Big Country 92.5 KTWB Ring |
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Junior Breeding Heifer Show Check-In | Check-In Area |
4:15 p.m. | Sale of Champions Exhibitors Meeting | Northside of Expo Building |
5 p.m. | Mayor's Round-Up Social | Northside of Expo Building |
6 p.m. | Sale of Champions | Northside of Expo Building |
Saturday, January 27 | ||
9 a.m. | 4-H Skill-a-thon | Northside of Expo Building |
10 a.m. | Junior Breeding Heifer Show | Big Country 92.5 KTWB Ring |
6 p.m. | Collegiate Livestock Judging - Coaches Meeting | Northside of Expo Building |
Sunday, January 28 | ||
7:30 a.m. | Collegiate Livestock Judging - Announcements | Expo Building Bleachers |
8 a.m. | Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest | Expo Building |
Noon | Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest – Reasons – Awards & Official Reasons to Follow | Southeast Technical College |
12 - 12:45 p.m. | 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest Check-In | Northside of Expo Building |
1 p.m. | 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest | Expo Building |