This past March, the Northern Ag Network proudly supported Moore, MT native and former state FFA officer, Jessica Horan and her Bovine Palpation Team. Having finished her undergraduate at Montana State University, Horan is now pursuing her veterinary education through Montana’s cooperative veterinary medicine program at Washington State University. Horan and her teammates traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Student American Veterinary Medical Association Symposium, featuring both conference sessions and a competitive event.
The team spent an entire day of the conference competing in the Bovine Palpation Team competition on the University of Tennessee campus and dairy. Twelve teams of veterinary students from various parts of the country competed. The competition consisted of three challenging rounds: a written bovine knowledge exam, a lab practical exam, and a live dairy cow palpation exam. It sounded like the hard work that the team put in was worth it, because they ended up winning the entire competition, marking the first-ever win for Washington State University in this rigorous competition.
Horan said, “Because Washington State University is a non-tracking school that learns about all different species and doesn’t just choose one species to focus on, these competitions give vet students a chance to specialize in just livestock and have extra preparation time to serve producers in rural Montana.”
In a recent interview, Horan shared her insights for aspiring veterinarians, emphasizing the importance of gaining practical experience and building a strong network of mentors in and outside of education. “Vet school is a lot of work, but it is a ton of fun and so worth it,” she added.
As a true Montana ranch gal, Horan plans to return to her roots and serve her community within five years of graduation, demonstrating her commitment to making a difference in rural Montana.
