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Congratulations Class of 2022! You made it through years of study and just like this early 20th century class, it is time to start the next new and exciting adventures of your lives. This photograph shows the South Dakota State College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts graduating class of 1916. It was taken June 7, 1916, on the roof of the Administration Building. In the background you can see the residential district between 9th Street and 10th Street (Harvey Dunn). This location today has the Alumni Association, The ������Ƶ Foundation Building, and the new President’s House. Also, if you look closely, you will see telephone and electric poles indicating Brookings was quite a modern city!

• Throwback Thursday

In honor of May being National Egg Month, we are featuring an item from the museum’s poultry collection. Used by poultry growers, egg stamps are used to label or brand a grower’s eggs for market. This “Chick Egg Stamp” has a wooden handle with a small plunger. When the plunger is pushed down the rubber stamp end marks the egg with blanks to write in the date the egg went to market and another blank for the date the egg was laid.

• What's New Wednesday

Here is a fun photograph! This young fellow is taking his goats out for a leisurely drive. The nearly matching pair of goats are hitched to a child’s wagon. There are farm buildings in the background, yet the location and identification of the young driver is unknown.

• Throwback Thursday

This plywood cutout sign is an advertisement of Sokota brand hybrid corn seed. The jolly, card playing ears of corn were created by Milo Potas, Visual Aids Specialist with South Dakota Extension Service. Each ear of corn is wearing black, pointy toed shoes, black corn husk pants and have painted faces and hair. Each ear of corn is holding a hand of cards. 

• What's New Wednesday

Clifford has two feeding troughs set out for the birds. The chicks appear to be housed in an old kitchen that was repurposed as a chicken house.

• Throwback Thursday

In late spring on the open range, ewes give birth outside when the weather is warmer with very little assistance. Depending on the terrain of the ranch, a shepherd will move the flock to a winter pasture that has a lot of natural coverage such as sagebrush or rocky out coves.

• What's New Wednesday

The Miller Elevator Company owned nine elevators in South Dakota. This row of elevators is possibly near Andover. In many older photographs, you will see horse drawn wagons delivering grain to the elevator.  However, this photograph shows an IHC Type C Mogul gas tractor pulling five wagons to this 28,000-bushel elevator. 

• Throwback Thursday

During the cold of late winter, gardeners begin planning their gardens and buying seeds. When sunshine and mild temperatures arrive, gardeners are ready to get their hands in the soil.

• What's New Wednesday

April is National Gardening Month. After a long cold winter everyone is ready for sunshine, warm breezes, and the chance to get dirt under their fingernails.

• Throwback Thursday

April 7 is National Beer Day. The brewing of beer has a long history in South Dakota.  When the first brewery opened in 1866, many Germans and other Europeans were settling the Northern Plains.  They began growing crops and brought their knowledge of turning grains into ale.

• What's New Wednesday