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Arkansas 4-H students see Oklahoma vet school in action

By Dave Edmark
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 8, 2016

Fast facts:

• 34 Arkansas 4-H members traveled to Oklahoma State University
• Saw demonstrations of veterinary school activities
• Group members ranged in age from 11 to 16

 (286 words)

STILLWATER, Okla. – For Arkansas teens considering veterinary careers, a 4-H program is giving them insights into how an injured eagle might learn to soar again or how rehab techniques for equine athletes sometimes isn’t that different from their human counterparts 

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Thirty-four Arkansas 4-H members, ages 11-16, caught a glimpse of their future with a weekend field trip to the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences on April 1-2. The trip is part of the new Arkansas 4-H Veterinary Science program, which is led by Heidi Ward, extension veterinarian for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

Why Oklahoma State? Arkansas does not have a veterinary college. 

“All the students indicated that they learned much from the OSU presentation on what it takes to get into veterinary school,” said Heidi Ward, an extension veterinarian with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

“Several of the students said that they enjoyed the equine treadmill demonstration because they are involved in 4-H horse programs,” she said. “Others said that they really enjoyed learning about eagle rehabilitation and seeing a golden eagle up close.” 

At OSU the students attended a class on veterinary school admissions, visited the large and small animal hospitals, watched dog agility demonstrations and learned about horse physiology and how to milk a dairy cow. 

The students came from Clark, Craighead, Cross, Faulkner, Greene, Hot Spring, Jackson, Lawrence, Polk, Pope, Randolph, Saline and White counties. On the way to Stillwater, they stopped in Fort Smith at OK Foods where staff veterinarian Blair Telg presented a program about veterinary medicine for poultry. 

More information about the 4-H veterinary science program is available from your local Cooperative Extension Service agent and at www.uaex.uada.edu.

 

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

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