Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the OKFB Foundation for Agriculture have launched a new large-animal veterinarian scholarship in an effort to help create a pipeline of veterinarians who can provide essential services to farmers and ranchers.

One scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $15,000 to a student who is studying veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State University with the intent of working as a largeanimal veterinarian in Oklahoma.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau members are all too aware of the shortage of large animal veterinarians in our state who are essential to providing critical services and helping farmers and ranchers care for their livestock,” said OKFB Foundation for Agriculture President David VonTungeln. “OKFB and our foundation are proud to provide financial support for a student who will soon work in a rural Oklahoma community helping local agriculturalists care for their animals in the best way possible.”

The large-animal veterinarian scholarship program focuses on providing reimbursement for students’ tuition and other educational expenses.

Students who apply will be required to sign a letter of intent to provide large animal veterinary services or to practice in a veterinary resource shortage area. Also required with the application is biographic and personal statement along with supporting letters from public officials and/or state agencies.

The deadline for scholarship submissions is March 15. To be eligible for the scholarship, the student must be a U.S. citizen, be enrolled at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, be eligible for Oklahoma licensure as a veterinarian and intend to practice in a veterinary resource shortage area.

To download the application, visit the applications page at okfb. news/applications.

The large-animal veterinarian scholarship program helps to provide veterinarians in a resource shortage area like rural Oklahoma where large animal vets are dwindling.