PVM Partners with the State Fair to Shine the Light on Veterinary Medicine

Friday, August 31, 2018

Visitors pictured at the PVM tent at the Indiana State Fair

The PVM tent at the Indiana State Fair included interactive displays and opportunities for faculty and staff to educate the public about the many facets of veterinary medicine.

PVM 4-H Dog Show Veterinary Evaluation team pictured

PVM faculty and students assisted during the Indiana State Fair providing veterinary evaluations for 4-H Dog Show competitors.

Over 860,000 fair goers attended the Indiana State Fair this year over its 17-day run August 3-19, including a record-breaking 91,000 attending in a single day. On a peak day during the fair, there are more than 1,000 animals present. For the fifth consecutive year, Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and veterinary students stepped-in to partner with the State Fair in providing veterinary care for all the fair’s exhibition animals. Dr. Jon Townsend, Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinical assistant professor of dairy production medicine and director of Extension, assisted in coordinating all the veterinary services for the exhibition animals on the fairgrounds, including most of the 4-H animals. The veterinary team provided 24/7 on-call care throughout the fair, which proved a mutually beneficial partnership allowing students to put their training into practice. “There is always a human attached to that animal and so you really have to have good bedside manner, good empathy, and that’s what this is developing,” said Dr. Townsend in an interview with WFYI Indianapolis. “How do you work with your clients, how do you talk to your clients?” Common ailments treated at the fair include respiratory disease or mild sprains. The experience also provided an opportunity for faculty and students to engage with the community and hopefully inspire future veterinarians.

Veterinary students pictured with a fair goer practices suture techniques

Purdue veterinary students Maddie Bryan, of the DVM Class of 2021, and Kristi Crow, of the DVM Class of 2020, teach suture techniques to fair goers in the College’s tent at the Indiana State Fair.

In addition to veterinary services provided, the College had a strong presence at the fair once again offering hands-on learning for kids with PVM’s Indiana State Fair Vet Camp. Fair goers also had the opportunity to view daily live surgery demonstrations and interactive displays in the College’s tent along with presentations on topics such as physical therapy for dogs, dairy calves, and veterinary dentistry. A team of faculty and students also assisted with the 4-H Dog Show providing veterinary evaluations.

Many thanks to the many volunteers who make the College’s extensive involvement in the State Fair possible!