Dr. Tera Barnhardt - DVM 2014
2023 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Dr. Tera Barnhardt, Johnson City, Kansas, was the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award for her notable achievements since graduating from Kansas State University. The award was presented by the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine during the Awards Brunch at the Annual Conference for Veterinarians held June 5, 2023.
Dr. Barnhardt earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2012, her DVM in 2014 and a master’s degree in biological and biomedical sciences in 2015, all at Kansas State University.
"Feeding the world with our beef and dairy cows is a noble endeavor, and I'm proud to be one very small piece of it, working alongside producers and taking care of cattle,” Dr. Barnhardt said during the Annual Conference for Veterinarians held in Manhattan. “When I took my veterinary oath at Kansas State, I think about that responsibility to care for animals on a daily basis. I am floored to be considered for this award among these great people here who are also veterinarians."
“As a participant in the Veterinary Training Program for Rural Kansas, Dr. Barnhardt has performed at an extremely high level and established herself as a valuable member of the beef cattle industry as well as a tireless advocate for animal welfare,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, Hodes Family Dean. “Her professionalism and work ethic has brought visibility to the profession and she continues to support veterinary students with mentorship and experience. This award shows our appreciation for her contributions to beef production and her support for the college. We cannot wait to see what she does in the future.”
After finishing college, Dr. Barnhardt completed the Executive Veterinary Program in Beef from the University of Illinois in 2018. She served as an associate veterinarian at Collingwood Animal Hospital in Johnson City from 2014 to 2016. She was coordinator of animal health and welfare with Cattle Empire LLC in Satanta, Kansas, for two years and then began working for herself as an animal welfare and research consultant since 2019.
Dr. Barnhardt is a member of Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), Academy of Veterinary Consultants and Animal Ag Alliance. She serves on the Board of Directors for the National Institute of Animal Agriculture. In 2021, she was named the Dairy Quality Center Veterinarian of the Year and, in 2022, she was presented with the James A Jarrett Award for Young Leaders by the AABP.
Dr. Barnhardt and her husband, Sheldon, have three children: Archie, Jolee and Chase.