The Lone Star College-Tomball Veterinary Technology program was recognized on Feb. 10 at the Boys and Girls Country awards luncheon held at the River Oaks Country Club for volunteering their time over the last two decades at the non-profit organization. Boys and Girls Country, located in Hockley, houses at-risk urban youths in a peaceful, rural setting. The residence maintains herds of livestock and LSC-Tomball veterinary technology students see to their care.

Students provide vaccines, deworming products, and their time each April. Kathleen Diamond, the LVT and Veterinary Technology program coordinator, said, “The students who are enrolled in the Food Animal Management course, first year students, are doing the work.”

The recent recognition was not only for service, but for length of service. The project began over 20 years ago when Dr. George W. Younger set up the field trip for the students.  It went on sporadically until about 2008 or 2009 when the students began a yearly visit to the facility. “They tend to a herd no matter the weather conditions,” said Joyce Brod, LVT and Director of the LSC-Tomball Veterinary Technology program. “We have been there when it was cold, wet and hot.”

 “The students in our program experience firsthand what it’s like to work with a large herd of cattle in a ranch setting,” Brod said. The real world experience is of great benefit to the students. “They also learn the benefit of providing a service to give back to the community and hopefully will continue to do so after they graduate.”

Awards won’t slow this program down though, the students will be back out in Hockley next month sharing their skills with the community.