HURON The South Dakota State Fair has been a place where livestock barns buzz with activity, laughter echoes from the bleachers, and fairgoers gather to celebrate agriculture and community. Since the early 1950s, the Open Class Sheep Barn has been a part of that celebration. It held many memories and has been an important part of the culture of the South Dakota State Fairgrounds. The old barn had outlived its useful life when it was torn down in 021 to make room for the Dakota Events Complex. The DEX replaced the Beef Complex, which burned down in October of 2020.
The estimated cost for the new building was $8 million dollars, with a fundraising goal of $3 million. A task force of sheep industry and fair representatives began fundraising in September of 2022 and continued through September of 2023. To secure the final dollars needed for the project, they went to the South Dakota state legislature.
We aimed towards continuing the camaraderie, world-class shows, and celebrations, said South Dakota State Fair Manager Peggy Besch.
The designing of the building began in April 2024, and led to the official groundbreaking for The SHED on Thursday.
A new chapter for open class sheep begins with the debut of The SHED, the State Fairs brand-new open class sheep barn and multipurpose building. It is covered by an acre of rooftop, a show arena, 400 pens, concrete flooring and restrooms. Now ready for its first ribbon-winning moments, The SHED brings together the timeless traditions of sheep showing with fresh opportunities for hands-on learning, demonstrations and fun.
A schedule for the Education Center has been developed and includes youth activities such as painting rock sheep, making wooden sheep wool wraps, weaving wool, and creating wool felted soap. Tentative plans also include times for a reading activity featuring books on sheep. Several scavenger hunts for youth and adults are included in the slate of activities. The Open Class sheep shows will feature wool breeds on Wednesday and Thursday, with meat breeds on Friday and Saturday. Youth shows for several breeds are scheduled Thursday through Sunday.
Adult programs have also been scheduled, and they include a lamb cooking demonstration, an American Lamb Industry lambing workshop, and opportunities on Friday and Saturday night to participate in a Wine and Paint Party. On Saturday, August 30, the Brookings Area Fiber Guild will demonsrate in the education center all day.
The SHED is going to be an incredible addition to the SD State Fairgrounds! exclaimed Besch.
There will also be interactive exhibits and educational displays in and outside of the education center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, through Sunday, August 31, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, September 1. The full list of activities can be found online at sdstatefair.com or in the schedule on the State Fair app. If you have questions, reach out to Open Class Sheep Superintendent Rufus DeZeeuw at 605-690-8269; Assistant Superintendent Patty DeZeeuw at 605-690-5639; or Assistant Superintendent Mary Held at 605-690-7032.
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