2022 Family and Consumer Sciences Show

Sixty years ago, a group of Extension agents, 4-H leaders and parents held the first Western Junior Home Ec Show, which is now known as the Family and Consumer Sciences Show (FCS Show). According to show president, Peggy Turbiville, Sundance, “We want everyone to come and enjoy, meet new people, and hopefully build friendships that will last a lifetime.”

The 60th show will be held Oct. 7 and 8 at the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City. The event consists of 12 contests held over two days that are open to all youth ages five though 18, from all states, and some contests have an adult division.

The show will conclude with a style show, awards and honoree tea at 3 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 8 in the Walter Taylor Building on the fairgrounds. During the awards program, all former contestants and volunteers will be recognized for keeping the show going for so many years. In some cases, several generations are participating in the show.

Bread Baking and Dairy Foods Demonstrations were the first two events held in 1962. The show historian, Ree Reich, Belle Fourche and Chris Maupin, Publicity Chairman, Hulett have organized six large scrapbooks of historical items, which will be available for viewing during the show. The 85th Western Junior Livestock Show will run from Oct. 4-8, also at the fairgrounds.

The 12 contests are Lego, FCS Judging, Produce ID and Judging, FCS Skill-a-thon, Meat Identification and Judging, Family Life Photo, Sewing Contest, Place Setting, Public Presentation, Measuring, Home Living and Cookie Decorating (non-competitive). No pre-registration is necessary and help is available if you are newcomer to the events.

The Lego contest and Cookie Decorating were added in 2021 and proved to be extremely popular. This year, the Sewing Contest has been changed to include items other than garments, which may be constructed or purchased to include an under 40-inch sewing division which might include wall hangings, doll clothes or other sewn items. There is also an over-48 inch division, which could include quilts.

The following contests are only held on Friday from noon to 6 p.m.: Home Living, Family Life Photo and Meat Identification. The other contests are held on Friday as well as from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

More information about each contest and a schedule can be found in the show book on Facebook under Family and Consumer Science Show, at your local extension office, by emailing Chris Maupin to request a booklet, or by calling show president, Peggy at 283-1229.

The 2022 Show Honoree is Vicki Triggs, Rapid City. Having grown up on a farm south of Mitchell, SD, Vicki (Fraser) Triggs had the opportunity to be involved in 4-H for six years.

As she attended a county school close to their farm, her parents thought the 4-H program would help with her development of cooking, gardening/canning, sewing, crafts and to participate in the sheep show. There Vicki learned to develop her demonstration, speech skills and to be involved with the public.

After high school, she went into a nursing program and worked as a RN for the Monument Health System for 44 years. When her daughters, Keri and Roberta, were able to participate in 4-H, she volunteered for 11 years as a leader and was on the board of directors for the Pennington County program. During this time, she helped with the Horse and Rodeo programs.

Beginning in 2006, Vicki was asked to join the Western 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences Show and has not looked backwards. She has been the coordinator of Meat Identification and currently serves as chairman on the Sewing and Home Living contests.

“It has been a great experience to watch and listen to these young members participate and grow with the program and watch them visit with the judges in these divisions,” she says.

Vicki loves the fact that the 4-H/FFA/ FCS Show programs are a family affair and looks forward to seeing the participants come back each year and for that reason she will continue her love of working with them at the Family and Consumer Sciences Show. Vickie now gets to encourage her six grandchildren to participate. She will continue to assist with the show as it develops with the changing times.

While the number of participants has declined over the years, the friendships and learning opportunities make it a worthwhile opportunity for youth and families from South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana and other states.