VTPRK Scholars tour veterinary practices and livestock facilities in rural Kansas
Story by Rylee Moore
August 24, 2026
Eleven scholars from the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas (VTPRK) at the College of Veterinary Medicine visited veterinary practices and livestock facilities across southwest Kansas May 18-21.
The experience gave VTPRK students the opportunity to engage with veterinarians, clients and producers in a variety of practice settings while exploring different regions of Kansas and learning about the unique needs of rural communities.
“The most valuable part of visiting veterinary practices and meeting with producers is the connections these experiences provide,” Madison Evje said. “Seeing a variety of feedlots and calf ranches in southwest Kansas allowed me to see a different side of rural veterinary medicine, as I have spent most of my experience in cow calf production, and to see a different sort of practice in rural veterinary medicine was a great opportunity to broaden my horizons.”
“Students who have been awarded the VTPRK scholarship are enthusiastic to gain skills they will need to thrive in rural veterinary practice," Dr. Bob Larson, professor in production medicine, said. "The veterinarians and livestock producers they met on the tour were eager to share their experiences and perspectives to support these students’ career journey.”
Students who participated included third-year students Madison Evje, Kati Monggeau, Callista Moore, Sydney Rohlman and Jenna Spenser, and second-year students Gracie Becker, Madison Bruna, Bradley Hill, Todd Paisley, Miles Stum and Samantha Woods. The students were accompanied by faculty mentors.
On Monday, the group visited Heartland Veterinary Center in Ness City, where students learned about mixed-animal practice from Drs. Nick and Samantha Henning. Nick, a former VTPRK scholar, earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from K-State in 2016. The group later traveled to Miller Veterinary Clinic in Scott City to meet with Dr. Ellie Minnix, a 2019 DVM graduate and former VTPRK scholar, to learn more about practicing veterinary medicine in rural Kansas.
Tuesday's visit took students to Johnson, Kansas, where they met with Dr. Tera Barnhardt, a 2014 DVM graduate, former VTPRK scholar and recipient of the 2023 Kansas State University Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Dr. Barnhardt serves as a dairy and feedlot consultant and discussed her nontraditional career path as a rural veterinarian, highlighting the diverse opportunities available in food animal medicine.
On Wednesday, the group toured Hy-Plains Feedyard in Montezuma and met with consulting veterinarian Dr. Miles Theurer, who earned his DVM from K-State in 2014. Students later visited Cactus Feedyard in Ulysses to learn more about large-scale feedyard operations and veterinary management.
The group began its return to Manhattan on Thursday with several stops along the way. In Larned, students visited Larned Veterinary Clinic, where Dr. Mike Apley, professor of production medicine and clinical pharmacology at K-State, previously practiced. The clinic and is currently owned and operated by Drs. Mike Burdett and Christy Hagman. The final stop was Ellsworth Animal Hospital, where Drs. Jessie Schulteis and Callie Kubick, both 2019 K-State DVM graduates, shared their experiences practicing in rural Kansas.
“The VTPRK trip to Southwest Kansas exposed me to new areas of veterinary medicine, which caused me to redirect the trajectory of my veterinary career,” Todd said. “Specifically, the trip revealed to me the industry of feedlot consulting. The trip inspired me to pursue a feedlot consulting internship this summer and connected me to individuals throughout the industry. I am grateful for the opportunities the VTPRK scholarship and trip have provided."
About the VTPRK
The Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas was originally passed by the state Legislature in 2006 as a financial incentive to provide rural areas in Kansas with committed veterinarians and it was enhanced in 2022 (HB 2605) based on the demonstrated success of the program of increasing the availability of veterinary care in rural Kansas. After completing their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, each student is required to work full-time at a veterinary practice in one of 92 Kansas counties which have less than 40,000 residents. For each year the student works at qualifying practice, up to $25,000 per year of qualifying students’ loans are forgiven over a period of four years.
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