Hands-On Approach

Hands-OnApproach

Doing to Learn. These three words make up cattle and holding the tails of bulls for the doctors to the second line of the FFA motto, the goal of a castrate.” Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and the definition of Missouri FFA’s State Star in Agricultural Bailey says this increase in responsibility has given him Placement’s dedication to growth in his SAE. a more accurate glimpse into the life of a large animal Clint Bailey of the Bowling Green FFA Chapter started his placement SAE at Bowling Green Veterinary Clinic “The responsibilities at the sale barn have introduced walking dogs, cleaning kennels and providing animals me to an environment that is similar to a full time with proper food and water. These tasks, career as a veterinarian, since most while important and necessary to daily veterinarians are called to farms to operations at the clinic, represent the work livestock such as cattle, goats, start of a journey filled with learning and sheep and hogs,” he explains. growth. This time spent “doing to learn” at After gaining experience at the vet the Bowling Green Veterinary Clinic clinic, Bailey’s responsibilities began to has helped shape Bailey’s future increase. He started assisting the lead career goals. He plans to attend the veterinarian at the local sale barn, the University of Missouri (MU) to obtain Eastern Missouri Commission Company, a degree in Animal Science. Upon and assisting on large animal farm calls. graduation, he hopes to attend the “My roles and responsibilities have veterinarian. MU College of Veterinary Medicine. changed in the veterinary science Bailey’s goal is to return to his homeplacement area,” Bailey says. “After town to apply for a position as a large working at the clinic for two months, I animal veterinarian at the Bowling was given a promotion to help assist Dr. Green Veterinary Clinic. While workDavid Cerven in providing ing as a veterinarian, he services at the Eastern Missouri Commission Company. My responsibilities include working the cattle chute, tagging calves, giving implants, aging cows, StarIN AG plans on continuing to help operate his family’s commercial beef cattle operation in the future. working the hot shot, penning PLACEMENT