RAISE The SHED

RAISE The SHED

The SHED booklet | The SHED pledge form| Donate Online|The Grand Drive flier

Since the late 1950s, the Open Class Sheep Barn had held many memories and has been an important part of the culture of the South Dakota State Fairgrounds. The ‘RAISE The SHED’ campaign is a collective effort by the community to build a new sheep and multi-purpose facility for the next generation of fairgoers to enjoy! To make sure the camaraderie, world class shows, and celebrations carry on for generations to come, a task force of sheep industry and fair representatives has been meeting to formulate a plan for what type of facility will be needed to showcase the fair’s world class sheep exhibitors, their breeds, and to accommodate other events.

The planned multi-use facility will foster further development and growth of our state’s future leaders in the agriculture industry. The facility, covered by an acre of rooftop, will include a show arena, 400 pens, an educational center, bleachers, concrete flooring, and restrooms. The indoor educational center will provide an indoor place for interactive learning, information on the sheep industry, opportunities in agriculture, and our state’s rich agricultural history.

We all need to work together to ‘RAISE The SHED’, so we are excited to kick off the fundraising effort to build a new sheep and multi-purpose facility at the South Dakota State Fairgrounds. To build a facility that we can be proud of and will last for generations to come, we need to raise $3 million.

The SHED will be the new home for Open Class Sheep during the annual State Fair and will serve as a multi-use facility for other livestock and equine events during non-fair time.

The SHED will feature:

  • 40,000 square foot sheep and multi-purpose facility
  • 1,320 square foot education center
  • 792 square foot mezzanine
  • Able to accommodate 1,000 head of sheep
  • 30 bay wash rack
  • 2,300 square foot show ring
  • Restrooms

Estimated Cost
$8 million with a fundraising goal of $3 million.

Vision Timeline
Design – Spring 2024
Groundbreaking – 2024 South Dakota State Fair

We look forward to working with you to build The SHED!

Pledge forms and donations can be mailed to: South Dakota State Fair Foundation, Attn: The SHED,1060 3rd St., Huron, SD

Checks can be made out to the South Dakota State Fair Foundation.

For additional information about the project or questions about “Raise The SHED” campaign please contact:

  • Peggy Besch
    South Dakota State Fairgrounds Manager
    605.353.7340
    Email Peggy
  • Larry Tidemann – Brookings
    ‘Raise The SHED’ Fundraising Committee Chair
    605.690.8353
    Email Larry

The fundraising committee is made up of members from across the state: