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Youth with 4-H Congress visit college

Dr. Luiz Bolfer, a cardiology resident, shows 4H Congress attendees how to use a stethoscope to listen to an animal heartbeat. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Luiz Bolfer)

A group of 15 students who visited the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine July 31 for an all-day workshop  as part of the 2014 “4-H University” — also known as 4-H Congress — learned what’s involved in applying to veterinary school and gained exposure to areas of the profession such as pet first aid, manatee anatomy, spay-neuter surgery and equine health.

Dr. Amanda House, a clinical associate professor of large animal clinical sciences, and Dr. Terry Spencer, director of distance education for the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, coordinated the group’s visit and put together an exciting program of activities.

After arriving at the college, the students listened to a panel discussion featuring UF veterinary students and learned more about the admissions process. The group then received a tour of the equine hospital and viewed a demonstration of the equine treadmill prior to rotating between activities that included a session with Dr. Bobbi Conner on pet first aid, an overview of manatee anatomy with Dr. Iske Larkin and an opportunity to view sterilization surgeries in the Veterinary Community Outreach Program.

Subsequently, the group visited the small animal surgery suite, where Dr. Luis Bolfer, a cardiology resident, presented information about canine cardiology, followed by two hours of activities led by House in the Large Animal Hospital.

The students who visited the college were a smaller group of the roughly 300 young people who participated in the event. Each year, as part of the event, more than 300 teens from around the state converge on UF for numerous workshops offered by university faculty members from across campus. The workshops represent many different colleges and areas of discipline.

4H Congress recipients examine parts of a manatee skeleton during a hands-on learning session provided at the UF CVM. (Photo courtesy of Michael Crandall)

Aside from exploring veterinary medicine, workshop topics ranged from exploring Florida’s aquatic resources to the art of effective communication, livestock production, art and natural history. Even psychology and bedbugs made an appearance on the list of workshops, along with food preservation and an introduction to Florida 4-H shooting sports.