The selection process was managed by a committee headed by Gatz Riddell, AABP. The grants seek to encourage veterinarians working with beef or dairy cattle who have expressed a desire to expand their skills and knowledge to further develop within their field of expertise in veterinary practice.

"AgriLabs expects these awards to facilitate Dr. Wren's efforts to encourage veterinarians to identify and participate in professional-development opportunities that enable them to be the best they can be within their profession and to better serve their clients and industry," said Jim Glassford, AgriLabs vice president of marketing.

Each $5,000 grant will be used by the winners – who have earned their veterinary degree within the past 10 years – to make possible the professional continuing education proposals they submitted.

Proposals could focus on:

Individual Animal Medicine – to enable practitioners to further his/her knowledge and skills in basic animal medicine, including diagnosis, treatment, surgery, case management, pain management or patient welfare.

Production Medicine – for veterinarians seeking to develop or implement herd protocols that enhance health and profitability, including records analysis, disease prevention, production enhancement, benchmarking, bio-security, or food safety.

The recipients are David Hudson, Dairy Continuing Education Award winner, and Seth Hartter, Beef Continuing Education Award.

Hudson works with dairy cattle at a mixed animal practice in northeastern Missouri. His primary responsibilities include ultra-sounding cows and heifers at 33-38 days of pregnancy, training staff on animal husbandry practices, implementing vaccine and treatment protocols, and treating sick animals. 

Hartter works with beef cattle in a mixed animal practice in Iowa. He is involved in general medicine and surgery for a variety of animals from pocket pets to cattle.  

—From AgriLabs Technical Services news release