The 2025 Black Hills Stock Show was marked by a significant accolade for South Dakota’s agricultural legacy, as Hugh Ingalls was formally inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. Ingalls, a beacon of ranching innovation and tradition from Meade County, represents the tenacity and dedication emblematic of South Dakota’s farming communities.
Ingalls, whose family has been integral to South Dakota’s ranching narrative since 1908, was recognized for his profound contributions to cattle breeding and management. His commitment to the Angus breed, renowned for its superior quality, has been at the heart of his lifelong work on the Ingalls Centennial Angus Ranch.
“I didn’t get here by myself,” noted Ingalls in his characteristically humble style. “Really I’m nobody special, but I got to work with a lot of special people.”
Founded before the turn of the 20th century, the Ingalls Ranch boasts the oldest registered Angus herd in South Dakota, tracing its origins back to an Angus bull purchased by Ingalls’s great-grandfather in 1895. Ingalls himself received his first heifer calf at the tender age of eleven, setting the stage for decades of dedication to cattle excellence.
With his wife Eleanor by his side, Hugh Ingalls honed a profound understanding of ranching, blending tradition with innovation. Their 75th wedding anniversary in June 2025 is a testament to their enduring partnership, founded on relentless work ethic and shared values. “My family pitched in and worked to get things done, and when I say family, I include Eleanor,” Hugh emphasized.
Ingalls’ forward-thinking approach included collaboration with Dr. Robbi Pritchard from South Dakota State University over more than three decades. Hugh’s steer calves played a pivotal role in over 20 nationally recognized research projects, solidifying his influence in and beyond South Dakota’s agricultural fields.
Technological advancements have dramatically transformed agriculture during Hugh’s tenure, from horse-drawn equipment to state-of-the-art machinery. Yet, as Ingalls opined, “Change for the sake of change is no better than tradition for the sake of tradition.” This philosophy underscores his success in integrating modern techniques while preserving time-honored practices.
Amongst his many accolades, Hugh Ingalls was named the Black Hills Stock Show (BHSS) Stockman of the Year in 1995 and received the BHSS Hall of Fame Silver Spur award in 2010. Ron Jeffries, General Manager of the Central States Fair and BHSS and Rodeo, reflected on Ingalls’ dedication, stating, “Hugh served as a crucial ‘Livestock Ambassador’, fostering the essential heart of the show – the cattle competitions – through years of service.”
Despite the dispersal of his herd in 2020, Ingalls remains actively involved in management decisions on his ranch. A few treasured Angus cows continue to roam the pastures, tethering new generations to Hugh’s legacy of excellence in cattle rearing.
Ingalls’ story is not merely about accolades but embodies the spirit of resilience and community characteristic of South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers. His life’s work illustrates the integral role of agriculture within the state’s identity. “South Dakota is cut out to be an agricultural state,” he states, affirming his pride in his roots.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Hugh Ingalls’ induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame affirms the centrality of agriculture to the state’s cultural and economic fabric. His tale of dedication offers inspiration to future generations of South Dakotans and agriculturalists worldwide.
For more information or to congratulate Hugh Ingalls, you may reach out via [email protected].