TAMU MS 2471
College Station, TX  77843-2471

The Texas A&M University Block & Bridle Club, known around Aggieland as Saddle & Sirloin, got off to a busy start this year with our Ice Cream Social and the somewhat new tradition of the game, “Singled Out.” After getting to know the new members of the club, S&S hosted a fun-filled afternoon of games and pizza, entitled the Back to School Bash. This is followed by our first social event of the year, the New Member Dance. Throughout the fall semester, S&S hosts several social events, including the Halloween Social and the Christmas Formal. Each of these social activities is also accompanied by a toy or food drive to benefit the community.

One of S&S’s largest activities in the fall semester is the Children’s Barnyard. During this event over 3,000 local elementary school children learn about various types livestock and gain hands on experience with some of the animals. One of the fundraisers held in the fall is the Fall BBQ and Labor Team Auction. This gives the club an opportunity to recognize the judging teams and get ready for the upcoming year. Following the BBQ, S&S has a labor team auction, in which members volunteer their time and labor to raise money for the club. Our club’s biggest fundraiser, however, is Ham Sales. We sell hams for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, raising thousands of dollars for the club.

We kick off the spring semester when several of our members attended the National Block & Bridle Convention in January. This semester is filled with many activities for our club including the petting zoo, COALS Ag Open House, and Intramurals. The L.D. Wythe Memorial Judging Contest is held in March and includes contest, for both amateur and experienced judges. This contest encompasses all judging aspects from livestock to meats, and also includes wool and mohair grading. After the first meeting in April, S&S host its annual Ham Trimming Contest where members compete against one another for the awards of Champion and Reserve Champion Ham Trimmer, based on actual yield and quality of workmanship.

The hams from the Ham Trimming Contest are then used for the annual Ham Auction and Luncheon. This event occurs on Parents Weekend along with the 61st Annual Little Southwester. The Little Southwestern is an intramural showmanship contest hosted by our club. The Saddle & Sirloin club provides steers, sheep, and swine for any A&M student who is interested in showing animals. This event has two divisions for each specie; experienced and rookie.

Following the Little Southwestern is the Spring Banquet, in which scholarships, judging awards, various club awards, as well as outstanding student awards are given.

We had a great year, as our membership totaled 312 students, with 161 of these being new initiates. We look forward to the coming years and hope that our club can continue to be one the best on campus!!

Officers
President- Kristi Kieschnick
Vice President- Rode Moore
Secretary- Johnny Philepello
Treasurer- Laura Real
Reporter- Allyson St. Cyr
Public Relations- Chad Fisher
Ag Council Rep- Amy Perrin
Ag Council Rep- Meredith McGowan
Sweetheart- Chanda Hoppe

Advisors
Dr. Jodi Sterle
Dr. Ronnie Edwards
Dr. Jim Sanders