The story of the formation of an agricultural college in the southern half of the Dakota Territory as a consolation prize is probably fairly common knowledge to the readers of this column. J.O.B. Scobey of Brookings went in search of an appointment for George Mathews and when that was unavailable he went in search of another plum get for Brookings. The penitentiary seemed like the next best prize, but when Sioux Falls had that locked up, Scobey secured the “cow college†for Brookings.
The act required “That a tract of land no less than eighty acres, adjacent to the Town of Brookings, be secured and donated to the Territory of Dakota, in fee simple, as a site for said College within one year from the taking effect of this act.†A committee was formed and six months later a mass meeting of the citizens was called for the purpose of raising the necessary funds to buy an appropriate tract of land. They raised $400 that night and by the next morning had another $200, from 58 people with gifts as large as $50 and as small as $1.
In 1883, when the territorial treasurer couldn’t sell the bonds to continue work on the building later known as Old Central, the citizens of Brookings again showed their loyalty to this idea of a college by paying out $1,000 for work to continue.
This early spirit of collection and commitment by the citizens of Brookings has been repeated over and over, but not just by the citizens of Brookings. Alumni and friends have invested time, talent and treasure to make SDSU what it is today. Those early investments were made on the idea or potential of the difference a college could make to the region. Today we are the great benefactors of those early commitments and their vision for what could happen when we work together.
By early standards, Brookings won a consolation prize. By today’s standards, we are the big winners for having the great luck and fortune to find our way to State.
With loyal hearts so true,
Andi Fouberg
President & CEO of Alumni Association
