Southwest Minnesota 4-H in partnership with Ridgewater College held a Junior Vet Kids Camp on February 11 at the Agricultural and Veterinary Science Department on campus in Willmar for 52 youth from Southwest Minnesota.
Youth from across the region learned about veterinary science and technology through hands-on experiences led by Ridgewater faculty and students. Participants learned how to perform a basic physical exam on canines which included proper use of a stethoscope to listen to their heart beat, finding a pulse, checking gums and more. Youth also learned the basics of dog grooming, comparative anatomy and function of digestive tracts, and learned about career opportunities as well as toured the agriculture and veterinary science departments on campus.
“This is the first time I can remember in my 20 plus years of teaching that I can remember not having a waitlist to get into the vet-tech program at Ridgewater,” said Dr. Allen Baylay, a veterinary technology instructor at Ridgewater College. “I am excited to see all of the interest from 4-H’ers and to have them here learning about our program.”
Junior Vet Kids Camp focused on youth who are in middle school through high school to expose them to careers and higher education related to small and companion animals as well as veterinary science.
One participant said, “I would like to learn more about what to do in high school to prepare for becoming a veterinarian.” While another said, “I enjoyed this event; it was very helpful for my FFA career and knowledge for the small animal contest.”
Youth from the following counties attended Junior Vet Kids Camp: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Renville, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine.
4-H is committed to helping youth thrive by providing opportunities to explore their personal spark. To learn more about 4-H in Murray County, contact 4-H Extension Educator Kim Hause, at 507-836-1144 and visit the website, www.4-H. umn.edu
