Some of you have heard this story. Sixty years ago, in the fall of 1965, I was a freshman at North Dakota State University (NDSU), living in Reed Hall on the north end of campus. With no career plan, I had majored in arts and sciences, and many of my classes were in Minard Hall on the south end of campus. At least twice a day, going from dorm to class and class to dorm, I passed Shepperd Arena.
Shepperd Arena was where the animal science majors went. Often, there was livestock there. The sights, sounds and smells as I passed Sheppard Arena made me realize my heart was back on the farm, so much so that I switched my major to agricultural economics. Were it not for Shepperd Arena, I would have not switched majors, would not have attended classes in Morrill Hall and would not have seen the notice on the bulletin board there. It said KXJB-TV was looking for an intern to assist its farm director.
Shepperd Arena is iconic. Built in 1951, it is the one building on the NDSU campus where generations of animal science majors have felt most at home. It was at the core of their college experience. Lining its hallowed halls are pictures of some of those people and others who built and grew the livestock industry in North Dakota.
But now, Shepperd Arena is old and outdated, too small and, in the opinion of some, not worth saving. Some NDSU students and faculty, no doubt, think livestock have no place on campus. A committee has been formed and input is being sought on construction of a new, larger livestock pavilion to replace Shepperd Arena – and it wouldn’t be where Shepperd Arena is now located.
Some NDSU animal science alumni are pushing back, passionately, against those plans. Acknowledging Shepperd Arena’s shortcoming, they believe it could be modernized and kept where it is. They say having the livestock arena near the heart of the campus makes a statement about the heart of NDSU.
Not surprisingly, the pushback is coming primarily from the ranching sector, where legacy and tradition are so important. There was no similar protest from farmers when crop science buildings were moved to the edge of campus.
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Al Gustin is a retired farm broadcaster, active rancher and a member of Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative.
