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Sheep in South Dakota are shorn every year in the spring. Sheep producers hire professional shearers to come to the farm or ranch to shear their flock.

• Throwback Thursday

In the wide-open spaces of South Dakota, sheep herders watched over large flocks, or groups, of sheep to guide them to food and water as well as protect them from predators. Most sheep herders in South Dakota were single men from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds in search of adventure, work or solitude. Sheep herders also included a few women or newlywed couples who spent their honeymoon year out on the range. Pictured here is a group of sheep herders and their sheep wagon taken by South Dakota Extension photographer Leland Sudlow.

• Throwback Thursday

Designed and built by Lee Pinet of Mitchell, this plow guide was designed for row crop tractors. Pinet was born in Missouri in 1893 and moved to South Dakota where he worked as a machinist and eventually owned the Pinet Machine and Gun Shop in Mitchell.

• Throwback Thursday

John A. Farms was born in South Dakota in 1883/84 and died in Seattle in 1960. The sign on this building identifies it as J. A. Farms Garage, where John was the garage's proprietor.

• Throwback Thursday

This image is on a postcard and the back of the postcard reads “Coal Mining in Meade County took approximately tow to three days to mine enough for their own use. Wm. A. and Phoebe E. Thompson homesteaded on ¼ section near Mud Butte.”

• Throwback Thursday

This Dell Rapids farm, ca. 1918 had five barns, a large house and a windmill. The field has been cut and shocked. The bundles are waiting to be threshed.

• Throwback Thursday

This cowboy is ready to go to work in his hat, high boots, and spurs while his horse is saddled and carrying the lariat.

• Throwback Thursday

Merry Christmas! This J.G. Hutton photograph, ca. 1895-1910, shows a tree decorated with glass, paper and cloth ornaments and garlands along with children waiting for Santa's visit.

• Throwback Thursday

During his many trips abroad as a plant explorer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Dakota State College professor N.E. Hansen sent back these tail-less sheep for James Wilson, an animal science professor.

• Throwback Thursday

This photograph of peacefully grazing Holsteins was taken by A. W. Tompkins, Hamlin County Agent, 1919-1924.

• Throwback Thursday