LINCOLN—Twenty students from across Nebraska have been selected for a highly competitive University of Nebraska–Lincoln program aimed at increasing the number of production animal veterinarians in the state.
The students, all high school seniors set to graduate this spring, were selected for the second cohort of the Nebraska Elite 11Veterinarian Program. The program, a partnership between Gov. Jim Pillen and the university, is aimed at addressing Nebraska’s shortage of food animal veterinarians.
Nebraska’s livestock industry contributes more than $6 billion annually to the state’s economy — an impact that is especially significant in rural counties and communities.Veterinarians play a critical role in keeping livestock healthy, improving herd health, and responding to disease and public health issues, among many other services, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
