By Scout Nelson
South Dakota State University will celebrate the reopening of two important agricultural facilities that support research, education, and extension activities. The Cottonwood Field Station near Philip and the Transient Animal Facility in Brookings provide valuable resources for students, researchers, and agricultural professionals.
These facilities serve different purposes, but both help strengthen practical learning experiences and improve agricultural programs. The upgrades allow students to gain hands-on experience while supporting studies that benefit livestock producers and the broader agricultural community.
“I am very excited about the reopening of these facilities, which will better enable our mission in research, teaching and extension,” said Joseph Cassady, SD Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
The Cottonwood Field Station is SDSU's only research station dedicated completely to range management. The station covers approximately 2,640 acres and maintains a commercial Angus cattle herd of about 125 to 150 cows. In addition, around 1,100 acres near Fort Meade are used for summer grazing activities.
Recent renovations improve the station's ability to support livestock and rangeland research. New additions include a monoslope feedlot, improved cattle-handling facilities, an educational meeting space, and wet-lab facilities located near the animal working area.
The upgraded infrastructure helps researchers study modern cattle production methods and grazing systems. It supports the use of advanced tools and technologies such as virtual fencing, GPS livestock tracking, automatic weighing systems, and precision feeding equipment. These technologies help improve efficiency, animal management, and data collection.
The renovations create more opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to participate in research programs. Students gain practical skills in beef cattle production, livestock management, and rangeland stewardship. These hands-on experiences prepare them for careers in agriculture and related industries.
The Cottonwood Field Station also serves as a valuable location for extension and outreach activities. Farmers, ranchers, industry professionals, and community members benefit from research findings and educational programs conducted at the station. The facility helps connect scientific research with real-world agricultural needs.
Along with Cottonwood, SDSU will also celebrate the reopening of the Transient Animal Facility located on the university campus in Brookings. This facility provides temporary housing for animals involved in research projects, educational activities, livestock judging team preparation, and the university's annual Little International event.
The need for the new facility became especially important after the 2022 derecho damaged several buildings and removed suitable temporary livestock housing space. The reopening restores an essential part of the university's agricultural infrastructure.
Construction of the new Transient Animal Facility is completed during the summer of 2026 through legislative support and the dedicated work of faculty and staff. The building strengthens SDSU's ability to provide experiential learning opportunities for students while supporting important animal-related programs.
The Transient Animal Facility grand reopening includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception on September 25, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Community members, alumni, students, and industry partners are invited to attend.
Visitors should enter through the SDSU Horse Unit at 1423 Medary Ave. in Brookings and follow signs to the facility.
Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university
Categories: South Dakota, Education, Livestock