Excitement from agriculture students filled South Dakota State University’s campus last week as students gathered for the taping of the ‘AgDay College Roadshow,’ a national event that celebrates agriculture programs at America’s land-grant universities.
For many SDSU students, it was a chance to see how a national television production comes together, while also showing off the pride they take in their university and the agricultural industry.
The roadshow, produced in partnership with U.S. Farm Report, travels to campuses across the country to highlight agricultural research, student engagement and the next generation of leaders in farming and agribusiness. For SDSU, hosting the show meant more than a day of cameras and interviews. It was an opportunity to highlight the university’s role in advancing agricultural education and to remind students why their voices and enthusiasm matter in shaping the future of the industry.
Lillian Steeke, a junior majoring in agricultural communications, said the experience offered a new perspective on how the agriculture story is told to the public.
“I enjoyed seeing the behind-the-scenes aspect of the College Roadshow,” Steeke said. “I think it was cool we could experience that.”
Steeke and her classmates were among dozens of students who showed their passion by making creative posters, social media posts and enthusiastic participation during the taping. Steeke showed her passion by creating a sign in her agricultural communication class.
“My group and I made a poster that said, ‘Don’t stop believing in agriculture,’” she said.
The mix of creativity and passion was exactly what the show’s producers hoped to see. Clinton Griffiths, the host of U.S. Farm Report and College Roadshow, said the event depends heavily on student involvement and energy to bring the program to life.
“There’s a lot of logistics—making sure we have all the people and space in place and getting students here so they can be part of it,” Griffiths said. “But we really want to tell the story about agricultural research colleges and the great work that they’re doing.”
Griffiths said the College Roadshow showcases how land-grant universities like SDSU are leading innovations in agriculture through research, technology and student-led initiatives. Each stop features three programs specific to the host university, allowing viewers to see how regional agricultural challenges are met with local expertise.
The College Roadshow has grown into a popular tradition on campuses across the Midwest. This year’s tour includes eight stops: Nebraska, Minnesota, Purdue, Missouri, South Dakota State University, Kansas State, Tennessee and Iowa State.
“My favorite part is really the event with all the students,” Griffiths said. “Being able to get enough kids here, the enthusiasm they bring and the creative signs, they just make it so much fun and add so much life to the show.”
That enthusiasm was high at SDSU, where students joined the event space with handmade signs and positive energy. Griffiths said he was impressed by how engaged the Jackrabbit community was throughout the day.
“The fact that we could fill every chair, see so many great signs and have student organizations submit videos for the social media contest – it shows a really engaged group of students,” Griffiths said.
The contest offered cash prizes to student organizations that created the most creative videos promoting the event, adding an extra layer of excitement. Griffiths says it’s all part of the show’s mission to build stronger connections between young people and agriculture.
This year the winning group of the cash prize for video submission was SDSU’s Agronomy and Precision Ag club. The winning poster went to student Payton Sailor.
“Younger generations tend to be a little less connected to their communities,” Griffiths said. “So being able to gather people into one place, make those connections and get to see each other in person – it’s a great way to instill that not just here at school, but for the future.”
For Steeke, hearing from agricultural professionals and learning more about the broader industry were highlights of the day.
“The most interesting part was listening to the panelists talk about the markets and what’s going on in the ag industry,” she said. “It really helped connect what we’re learning in class to what’s happening in the real world.”
As the production wrapped up and the crowd began to disperse, the energy on campus lingered. Students left being part of a national production and with joy of sharing their passions for agriculture.
For Griffiths, that’s exactly what the College Roadshow is meant to inspire.
“It’s been fantastic,” he said. “We’re combining our efforts with U.S. Farm Report and other partners to cover the Midwest and highlight these great land-grant schools. It’s about telling their stories, but it’s also about showing students that they are the next chapter of agriculture in America.”
And at SDSU, that message clearly resonated. From clever signs to thoughtful conversations, students demonstrated that the spirit of agricultural innovation and community remains as strong as ever on the campus of SDSU.