PEER Hosts Annual State FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event

Story by Torri Whitaker, PEER Program Content Specialist

On May 4, the Texas A&M PEER Program, in cooperation with the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVM), hosted the eighth annual State FFA Veterinary Science Career Development Event (CDE).

FFA students identify veterinary equipment
FFA students identify veterinary equipment

Dr. Glennon Mays, CVM director of recruiting and student services, welcomed FFA students and highlighted the many veterinary-related careers.

Students participating in this state level event had to first qualify by placing within the top five teams at regional competitions.

The State FFA Veterinary Science CDE consisted of six rotations, including identification of veterinary equipment, parasites, organs, and animal breeds, a written exam, and a skills practicum.

This was PEER’s largest competition to date with 313 high school FFA students from across the state in attendance. It was also the first opportunity to host the event in the Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex. Both FFA students and their agricultural teachers shared many comments of admiration for the facilities as well as appreciation and thanks for the CVM hosting this state event.

The success of this event would not have been possible without the CVM family.

Small Animal Hospital technicians Heather Barnett, Jessica Grzegorzewski, and Megan Paul, along with veterinary students Danielle Vaden Anderson and Alyssa Kool, judged the skills practicum rotation in which FFA students were required to correctly administer an intramuscular injection in a stuffed dog.

Danielle Ajala and Ken Turner, both from the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, ensured that the students experienced excellent facilities, equipment, and specimens for the parasite identification rotation.

FFA student administers an intramuscular injection in a stuffed dog
FFA student administers an intramuscular injection in a stuffed dog

Additionally, Tiffany Railsback graciously allowed the FFA students to complete the organ identification rotation in the highly interesting anatomy lab. She also provided the plastinated anatomical specimens used for identification.

Joe Hinton at the Large Animal Hospital helped procure unique veterinary equipment necessary for the equipment identification rotation.

Finally, 18 fightin’ Texas Aggie undergraduates representing PEER, the Department of Animal Science, and the colleges of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Education served as group leaders and room proctors, ensuring that the entire event ran smoothly.

Clearly, this event would not have been possible without the selfless service of the Aggie, and especially the CVM, family.

This opportunity to experience premiere veterinary educational facilities and resources motivates and inspires students to continue their education in the classroom and beyond high school. The commitment to provide such excellent educational opportunities ensures a highly qualified next generation of those seeking veterinary-related careers.


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