| Academic Quadrathlon – Members of the club and the Animal Science Department are asked to put together teams of four to test their knowledge about animal agriculture. Each species has its own station and “expert” representing them to quiz students on their knowledge, with the overall winner then representing ISU in a national competition. |
| Animal Science Banquet – This event is hosted alongside the Animal Science Department to showcase the past year’s achievements. Faculty, staff, and families are all invited to join the celebration. During the banquet, we present club awards and scholarships. This past year, we had 150 attendees and hosted a silent auction of dessert items, raising $790 for Cactus Cares. |
| Animal Learning Day – This is our largest community involvement event, in which we invite families to come to learn about animal agriculture. Each interest group is asked to put up a display to educate children about their species, and animals are brought in from the university’s teaching farms and local producers for everyone to see. Larger associations, such as the Iowa Egg Council and Iowa Sheep Producers Association, are invited to teach consumers the importance and versatility of their products. This year, 2,200+ community members and their families attended our event, setting a record for the highest-attended Animal Learning Day yet! |
| Best of the Midwest Goat Show – This is a one-day event with a total of two shows, sanctioned by Beyond the Ring and the Iowa Junior Boer Goat Association. The tri-chairs and committee members are responsible for the planning and execution of the show, under the advisement of a graduate student. |
| Blood Drive – Collaborating with the Red Cross Blood Donation, Block & Bridle hosts this event every February to support the community. During the 2024 event, 39 people donated blood. |
| Cake Auction – Every interest group and organization in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences donates a cake for this annual event. All cakes are auctioned off with the proceeds going towards the Block and Bridle Club Scholarships, raising $2,309 this past year. Awards are also given out for the best cake designs in 4 categories: People’s Choice, Judge’s Choice, Best Interest Group, and Best Club. |
| The Classic Cattle Show – Held in conjunction with the ISU Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, this is a jackpot market and breeding cattle show sanctioned through the Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association, and is the largest jackpot cattle show in Iowa. Tri-chairs and committee members are responsible for obtaining sponsorship, coordinating with AGR and IJBBA, and planning months in advance to ensure a safe, successful, and organized event. This year’s show had 276 head and 240 exhibitors present, awarding scholarships of $4,500 to six recipients. |
| Canine Workshop – The club hosts an annual Canine Workshop, which was held twice this past year. In the fall, we featured an Agility course, while the spring session focused on CTC and Tricks courses. Each workshop had about 20 dogs participating. After completing the training, dogs can become certified, showcasing their skills and accomplishments. |
| Cardinal and Gold Showdown – This event is a lamb show hosted in conjunction with the Heartland Show Lamb Circuit, with tri-chairs and a committee responsible for the planning efforts. They were responsible for collecting sponsorship money, advertising the show, and setting up/tearing down equipment the day of the show. |
| Dodgeball Tournament – This event is held during the fall semester and is a fun event for members to get to know each other while supporting a great cause. All proceeds from the tournament go towards Cactus Cares. Awards are given to the “Grand Champion”, “Reserve Champion”, and “Showmanship” teams. |
| Faculty & Staff Appreciation – This past spring, the annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation event turned into a breakfast, cooking eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. The breakfast had excellent attendance and was much appreciated by the Animal Science faculty, staff, and graduate students. |
| Freshman & Transfer BBQ – During the second week of classes, the club invites all new freshman and transfer students interested in animal agriculture to a free BBQ dinner. Students are welcomed by numerous Block and Bridle members, while getting the chance to learn about our interest groups and sign up for the ones that catch their eye the most. Club advisors, department faculty, and staff are invited to attend as well. |
| Hunger Fight - Block and Bridle hosts an annual Hunger Fight during the fall semester to package meals for the less fortunate. Every year we partner with Meals for the Heartland, packaging an impressive 38,000 meals during the fall of 2023. |
| Little North American – This annual event is an opportunity for members to exhibit animals while being judged on their showmanship abilities across various species, including dairy, beef, swine, sheep, and equine. Experience showmen are paired with novices to teach them the fundamentals of showing their respective species, with participants required to attend at least three practice sessions. The event culminated in a final Round Robin competition, where winners from each species competed for scholarships, featuring 59 participants this past year. |
| LegaCY – A first-time event this year, LegaCY is a pig show that will be held on September 1st, 2024. Tri-chairs and committee members are responsible for gathering sponsorship and planning the event. We look forward to bringing this new event alive! |
| Meat Your Future – This Pre-Career Fair mixer event is an opportunity for students interested in the meats industry to network and learn more about various companies. Hosted by the Meats Interest Group, students listen to informational presentations from representatives of meat-affiliated companies, such as Seaboard Foods, Hormel Foods, Cargill, and more! |
| Socials – Throughout the year, our socials are planned by co-chairs who ensure a variety of fun and engaging activities for our members. Annually, we host a formal event featuring food and dancing. This past spring, we also enjoyed a bags tournament and game night with Chick-fil-A. These socials are excellent opportunities for members to bond and build lasting connections. |
| Spring Spectacular Swine Show – Sanctioned with the Iowa Swine Jackpot Series, this annual event is a double ring show held in conjunction with the ISU Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. In 2024, there were over 232 entries, with prizes given to the grand champion overall, reserve champion overall, and breed winners for both market and breeding. |
| Summer Sausage & Cheese Sale – This is the club’s biggest fundraiser every fall leading up to the holiday season, with every members highly encouraged to sell product. All cheese purchased from Wisconsin, with sausage being made right in our Iowa State Meat Laboratory. The money earned from sales helps fund interest group trips for both the fall and spring semesters. |
| Swine Industry Night – Put on by the Swine Interest Group, this annual event is a Pre-Career Fair mixer that allows members to network with companies in the swine industry to learn of internship and job opportunities. This past fall, twenty-five companies were present, including PIC, IPPA, Smithfield, Maschhoffs, Elanco, Merck, and more! |