Block & Bridle Club at Virginia Tech
The Block & Bridle Club at Virginia Tech was founded in 1935, ever since then, our club has sought to enhance the opportunities for educational advancement for students across the commonwealth, engage the agricultural community and encourage our members to further their understanding of Animal Science.
Our club is rooted in our service activities and those branches touch all aspects of the livestock industry. Each year we put on several events for 4-H and FFA students to hone their respective skills and to compete against some of the best young agriculturalists our state has to offer. Our annual events are a Horse Judging Clinic, Hippology Contest, Horse Judging Contest, Meats Contest, Stockmen's Contest, and a Livestock Judging Contest.
Funding for our club activities comes through the sale of our renowned BBQ. Each year we set up shop at the State Fair of Virginia, Hokie Harvest, Virginia Beef Expo, and more.
These activities and more help us carry out our mission as outlined below:
The objectives of the Block and Bridle Club at Virginia Tech will follow the same objectives of the National Block and Bridle, Article I, Section II:
1. To promote a higher scholastic standard and a more complete understanding of the field of Animal Science among student members.
2. To promote Animal Science through the development of a program of activities, especially all phases of student Animal Science work in colleges and universities.
3. To bring about a closer relationship among all students pursuing some phase of Animal Science as a profession.
History of The Block & Bridle Club
As a land-grant institution, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) has always had strong roots in the agriculture community. Prior to 1931, Virginia Tech’s agricultural department sponsored the Little International Livestock Show, a freshman “rookie” judging contest, a judging team, and an annual spring judging contest for students participating in agriculture related courses. Students of Animal Husbandry also participated in the Eastern Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest, but were hampered in their efforts due to a severe lack of funding. Faculty and students began brainstorming about an organization that could help support and raise funds for the judging team.
By 1932 this idea developed into the Virginia Tech Hoof and Horn Club. The first project and priority of the club was organizing a profitable annual horse show. The shows were exceedingly successful, generating substantial revenues, and enabling the club to offer non-interest loans for the judging team. During this time period, the Dean of the College of Agriculture decided to condense the student efforts into a singular college-wide organization and thus banned all departmental clubs. The Hoof and Horn Club was forced to disband; yet the students of this organization did not feel that the newly formed organization was meeting its needs. Delegates of the former Hoof and Horn Club were then invited to attend a meeting of the National Block and Bridle club held in conjunction with the 1934 Eastern Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest.
In 1935, Virginia Tech’s petition for acceptance to the National Block and Bridle Club was accepted and the Block and Bridle Club at Virginia Tech was officially established. B&B at Virginia Tech became affiliated with the Little International Livestock Show in 1936 and fully organized, funded, and promoted the event from that year forth. B&B at Virginia Tech faced hardship in 1944 and ceased operations due to the number of active members serving in the armed forced during World War II. After losing six members to the battlefield, the club was reinstated in 1946 with school approval. A special meeting in 1948 changed the face of our club forever as a majority vote allowed for the acceptance of Sally Trickle and Ann Powell as the first female members of the club.
The face of agriculture has drastically changed in the 83 years since this club first began. What once started as a small group of friends attempting to fund their judging team has blossomed into one of the most active organizations on our campus. Block and Bridle at Virginia Tech now organizes and runs more than ten major events a year to promote learning and agriculture. These include: horse, meats, livestock, hippology, and stockmen’s contests, a horse judging clinic, the Little International Livestock Show, a State Fair BBQ booth, and the Virginia Beef Expo. What has not changed throughout the years is our continued commitment to animal husbandry or our dedication to the community and one another.
Written by Sarah Parsley, B&B Alumnus