Julie Ellingson, North Dakota Stockmen’s Association executive vice president, will be honored as the Agriculturist of the Year during this year’s Little International Showmanship Contest. The event is scheduled for Feb. 12-13.

Little I is organized by more than 300 student members of NDSU’s Saddle and Sirloin Club and led by manager Kadey Holm, a senior majoring in animal sciences.

Ellingson will be honored at the Agriculturist of the Year banquet Friday, Feb. 12.

Ellingson has worked for the association since 1998. She started as communications director and has since assumed the role of executive vice president. Ellingson and her family also run Ellingson Angus at St. Anthony, North Dakota.

“Julie Ellingson is a superb choice for the year’s Agriculturist of the Year,” said Holm, who is from Ashley, North Dakota. “Her core values of dedication, hard work ethic, passion for agriculture and strong faith base are exactly what we look for. We are ecstatic to be honoring her during the banquet and throughout the weekend.”

The Agriculturist of the Year banquet will be at the Sanctuary Events Center in Fargo. Tickets are $20. To purchase banquet tickets, contact Holm at littlei.management@gmail.com or 701-535-1226.

The Little I livestock showmanship contest begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Shepperd Arena on the NDSU campus with Saddle and Sirloin club members and other students showing beef, dairy, swine and sheep. The showmanship finals begin at 5:30 p.m. that night.

As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.