By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) awarded scholarships to four college students pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree.
The Rural Veterinary Scholarships, valued at $10,000, are new to TFB’s scholarship program this year. The state’s largest farm and ranch organization established the new scholarship to help ease the financial burden on veterinary students who seek further experiences and education with food animal species.
The recipients include Tucker Roberts, Manuel Sifuentes, Travis Twining and Emily Watson. They are all students at Texas A&M University.
“There is a clear need for veterinarians in rural areas of the state. This new scholarship was created to help support veterinary students who wish to pursue a career focused on the needs of rural communities and the food animal side of veterinary medicine,” McKenna Bush, TFB youth outreach coordinator, said.
Animal agriculture is a large part of the Lone Star State, but a shortage of rural veterinarians could put that business at risk.
With fewer veterinary graduates heading to rural areas, many long-time rural veterinarians have no successors.
That leaves farmers and ranchers in a tough situation—call a veterinarian who could be hundreds of miles away or solve problems on their own.
“TFB members from all across Texas need additional veterinary service, especially in emergency situations,” Bush said. “This scholarship program has been designed to lend assistance to those who wish to fill that need.”
The scholarship was open to second- and third-year veterinary students in a Texas DVM professional program. Applicants must plan to enter a rural and/or food animal practice in Texas upon completion of their degree.
To view the full list of 2022 spring scholarship recipients, visit texasfarmbureau.org/scholarships.