It is a great honor to be chosen as a recipient of the Targeting Excellence scholarship! Thank you to all of the sponsors and donors, and those who serve on the committee. The passion and enthusiasm you all show for food animal production and its future is one of the things that excites me most about pursuing this career.
After receiving my veterinary degree, I hope to practice as a dairy veterinarian in Wisconsin. This goal stems from my passion for enhancing sustainability in agriculture. I believe that livestock production has an important role to play in feeding our growing world population. Veterinarians have the crucial task of keeping those animals healthy, which in turn helps make livestock production more efficient and sustainable. I am committed to working with my clients to enhance animal health, minimize environmental impact and maximize the profitability of their operations.
At the same time as we are improving our herds and management practices, a growing number of consumers are becoming suspicious of these modern advances. Large segments of the public are now rejecting the developments that have allowed the United States to develop an inexpensive, sustainable, nutritious and safe food supply. Veterinarians are still viewed as a trusted source for information, so I hope to help bridge the gap between farm and fork, as well as serve as an advocate for animal agriculture.
Targeting Excellence
PO Box 759
Rose Hill, NC 28458
For questions please call:
Rachel Virden 678-448-2368