������Ƶ

South Dakota State University is home to over 250 student organizations. Each gives students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and build community across campus. This is the fourth in a series of profiles about students taking on leadership roles at State. 

Little International, also known as Little “I,” is the largest two-day student-run agricultural expo in the nation. It takes roughly 160 students and months of planning to put on a successful event. 

Leading it all as general manager is Teigen Hadrick, a senior animal science production management major from Faulkton. 

“In my role as manager, I just run the circus,” Hadrick said. “I try and get people lined up the best I can to give them the most opportunities for success that they can get. Really, it's about the people who get things done. I try to set everyone up for success.”

Hadrick joined the Little “I” staff at the urging of his roommate his first year at ������Ƶ and said he fell in love with it right away. 

He was drawn to the leadership role because he had ideas for changes to the organization and “it's no good complaining” if he wasn’t willing to step up and help. He hopes he has improved Little International while recognizing the organization is helping him grow as a leader.

Little International brings roughly 2,600 high school students to ������Ƶ to compete in an FFA- or 4-H-style competition. 

“It's looks like organized chaos a little bit, but I know everyone's having a good time, and that's really what I want to do, is just help people to have fun,” he said.

His involvement with Little “I” has helped him grow his leadership skills including communication and managing people. 

“It's really pushed me a lot further than I ever thought it was going to,” he said. 

Hadrick said ������Ƶ felt like home when he looked at his higher education options. He grew up attending the occasional Jackrabbits football or basketball games and felt the size of ������Ƶ would allow him to get to know people. 

Outside of Little International, Hadrick stays involved in the Farmhouse Fraternity, Swine Club, Dairy Club, Collegiate Cattleman’s Club, as an Animal Science ambassador and member of the Meat Judging Team.

Hadrick is currently looking at job opportunities to follow up his time at State, but in the end he hopes to work back at the family farm with his dad. 

This year’s Little International will be held March 28-29.