Block and Bridle

Club History

In 1929, an organization known as the Animal Husbandry Club was developed by members of the livestock judging team with the help and encouragement of Professor George Brown, head of the Animal Husbandry Department, and Professor George Branaman, coach of the livestock judging team. These two faculty members felt that it was important for Animal Husbandry students to participate in a professionally-oriented organization.

In 1930, the Animal Husbandry Club petitioned the National Block and Bridle Club for membership. During that group’s annual meeting at the Chicago International in the fall, the MSU club was accepted as a member of the parent organization and chartered as the Michigan Chapter. Wilton Finley, Beef Cattle Extension Specialist at MSU for many years, was the club’s first president.

By 1936, membership increased to 20 agricultural students. The activity roster included the Little International fitting and showing contest, the fall Round-Up Banquet honoring the livestock judging team, the B & B mixer in the fall for agricultural students, a lunch stand at Farmer’s Week, an exhibit at the annual Fall Harvest Ball, a FFA livestock judging contest, and an informal initiation.

Professor Lynn Bratzler joined the staff in 1946, and the club, along with the department, began sponsoring a meats judging team with Professor Bratzler as the coach. Two years later, the first annual horse show was held and a spring picnic was added to the list of activities.

By 1955, club enrollment had blossomed to 65 members, several new judging contests were added throughout the year, a student-faculty night was adopted, and a Spring Banquet was held.

In 1960, the officers revised the committee structure and organization of the club. The list of activities continued to grow and change. Also during this time, the club’s income grew steadily, and it began awarding scholarships and taking a more active role in sponsoring judging teams.

The club has continued to thrive and evolve, even as the number of students coming from a livestock background has declined. Although some of the activities have changed, others remained the same. The Little International continues to be one of the most popular club activities. In 2010, the club hosted the National Block and Bridle Convention for the first time in history! Approximately 300 students from over 25 schools came to Michigan in the fall and experienced a taste of Michigan agriculture.