The_Ledger_fall_2018

Learning Through Doing

BY HANNAH JOHLMAN, FREELANCE WRITER W ith a moderately sized herd of 75 fullblood Aberdeen cattle, the University of Findlay of fers animal science students a unique, hands-on-learning college expe rience.

Many colleges require advising appointments, then students are left to sign up for classes on their own. At

Findlay, faculty advisors are with their students every step of the way, from guiding them through class registration to informing them about intern ships and career goals. “Most of the faculty are heavily involved,” McCarthy says. “We encourage students to sit down and talk about where they want to go. Some times students just need a sounding board with an idea, and we try to push them to look at options, ask questions and to get as much informa tion about other opportuni ties, not just lock themselves into one area.” Part of how students are en couraged to make life decisions

“We try to get the students involved in a number of ways through class or extra-curricular activities pretty early on so that our freshman are involved in animal handling – both food animal and equine – in their first year,” says Farabee McCar thy, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Studies. The University of Findlay is a private university in Findlay, Ohio. Though a smaller col lege than most, with an average

The livestock show team’s big shows are in Louisville, Ky., and Denver, Colo. Students who go to these shows are chosen based on a reward system.

total enrollment of just over 4,000 students, the school is well known for its animal science and equestrian studies programs. The animal science department is made up of about 600 students who choose from three different programs: pre-veterinary, science or industry, allowing students to focus on one area. The pre-vet option includes several courses that are required by some veterinary schools in addition to normal, undergraduate animal science classes. The science option is directed more toward students who are interested in a career that is more lab-oriented or if they are consider ing graduate school. The industry option is more heavily weighted toward business and better for students who plan to work in the industry after graduating. “We’re a pretty small facility really, so we advise all of our students within the department,” McCarthy says. “We try to advise students from the time they arrive to develop some options and have an open mind about other careers in animal agriculture.”

in the short time they are at the school is through exten sive hands-on experiences at the Pre-Veterinary Barn and the Dr. C. Richard Beckett Animal Science Building, where students spend a good portion of their first two years learning practical animal handling, animal husbandry, care, restraint, nutrition and animal behavior.

Being on the livestock show team is a way for students to gain hands on experience around cattle and network throughout the industry.

Ten years ago, as student numbers were increasing, the animal science department received funds to put together a herd of livestock for study and research. “We had some animals, but no significant numbers, and we didn’t have a lot of the other species,” McCarthy says. “We’re kind of limited in terms of acreage, so I needed to have something that was going to give students opportuni ties, particularly the kinds of students we get who don’t have a lot of experience or background in large animals, but yet still have the numbers to meet our needs.”

Not all students are experienced in showing cattle, but each student is given various responsibilities at the show, working together for the good of the team.

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