72 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
The Sioux Empire Livestock Show is proud to feature a Purebred Cattle Show & Sale! New since 2021, we have added 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
Supreme Row
$3,500 to consignor
$2,500 to buyer
of Supreme Champion Bull and Supreme Champion Heifer
Thanks to our Purebred Prize Sponsor, EBY Trailers, Supreme Row consignors have the chance to win a 1-year lease on a EBY trailer.
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.
Junior Livestock Exhibitor Information
The Sioux Empire Livestock Show hosts a 4-H/FFA invitational calf shows, and the following junior shows: 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 four paid livestock internship positions. These hands-on internships provide students with experience in event management, logistics, communications and consumer 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 21-26, 2025, 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
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. 3 | Online | |
| Coaches Meeting | Jan. 25 | 6 p.m. | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building |
| Contest: | Jan. 26 | 8 a.m. | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Expo Building |
- 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
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 21 | ||
| 9:00 a.m. | Move-In: 4H/FFA Invitational Calves | Expo Building |
| 1:00 p.m. | Check-In: 4-H/FFA Invitational Calf Show | Check-In Area |
| 4:30 p.m. | 72nd Annual Ribbon Cutting | Backdrop Area |
| 5:00 p.m. | Purebred Consignor Meeting | Northside of Expo Building |
| 6:00 p.m. | 4-H/FFA Invitational Calf Show | Grand Falls Casino Ring |
| Wednesday, January 22 | ||
| 9:00 a.m. | Move-In: Junior Market Hogs & Junior Market Beef | Expo Building |
| 9:00 a.m. | Purebred Cattle Shows | Show Rings |
| 12:30 p.m. | Purebred Cattle Sales | Sale Ring |
| 4:00 p.m. | Check-In: Junior Market Hogs | Check-In Area |
| 5:30 p.m. | Supreme Row Judging | Show Ring |
| 6:00 p.m. | Supreme Row Social | Sale Ring |
| Thursday, January 23 | ||
| 8:00 a.m. | Junior Market Hog Show | Show Ring |
| 8:30 a.m. | Check-In: Junior Market Beef | Check-In Area |
| 9:00 a.m. | Move-In: Junior Prospect Calves | Expo Building |
| 11:00 a.m. | Move-In: Junior Market Lambs & Junior Market Goats | Expo Building |
| 12:00 p.m. | Check-In: Junior Market Lambs & Junior Market Goats | Check-In Area |
| 2:00 p.m. | Check-In: Junior Prospect Calves | Check-In Area |
| 3:00 p.m. | Junior Market Beef Show | Show Ring |
| 4:00 p.m. | Junior Market Goat Show | Show Ring |
| 6:00 p.m. | Junior Market Lamb Show | Show Ring |
| Friday, January 24 | ||
| 8:00 a.m. | Move-In: Junior Breeding Heifers | Expo Building |
| 8:00 a.m. | Junior Prospect Calf Show | Show Ring A |
| 9:00 a.m. | Junior Prospect Calf Show | Show Ring B |
| 11:00 a.m. | Check-In: Junior Breeding Heifers | Check-In Area |
| 4:00 p.m. | Sale of Champions Exhibitors Meeting | Northside of Expo Building |
| 5:00 p.m. | Mayor's Round-Up Social | Northside of Expo Building |
| 6:00 p.m. | Sale of Champions | Northside of Expo Building |
| Saturday, January 25 | ||
| 9:00 a.m. | 4-H Skill-a-thon | Northside of Expo Building |
| 10:00 a.m. | Junior Breeding Heifer Show | Show Ring A |
| 10:30 a.m. | Junior Breeding Heifer Show | Show Ring B |
| 6:00 p.m. | Collegiate Livestock Judging - Coaches Meeting | Northside of Expo Building |
| Sunday, January 26 | ||
| 7:30 a.m. | Collegiate Livestock Judging - Announcements | Expo Building Bleachers |
| 8:00 a.m. | Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest | Expo Building |
| 12:00 p.m. | Check-In: 4-H/FFA Judging Contest | Check-In Area |
| 1:00 p.m. | 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest | Expo Building |
