Twenty-three members of Penn State's Equine Research Team attended an undergraduate research symposium at Virginia Tech's Middleburg Agricultural Research Extension Center (MARE) earlier in April, joining with Virginia Tech students in sharing their passion for the health and well-being of the horse.
Members of Penn State's Equine Research Team who visited Locust Hill Farm near Middleburg, VA as part of an undergraduate research symposium. There are 65 members on the Team.
Twenty-three members of Penn State's Equine Research Team participated in an undergraduate research symposium at Virginia Tech's Middleburg Agricultural Research Extension Center (MARE) in early April. The event was designed to foster a collaborative atmosphere of scientific discovery, networking, and sharing among undergraduate students with a passion for the health and well-being of the horse.
Students presented results of their undergraduate research projects, discussed planned future experiments and shared in a group discussion about career preparation and career opportunities. There were 55 students from Penn State and Virginia Tech.
Dr. Terry Etherton, head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State, said, "This was a fantastic opportunity for students to meet their peers from another university, share their research findings and interact with equine industry professionals."
They toured the MARE Center, a 400-acre facility dedicated exclusively to equine research and education, and learned about Virginia Tech's sport horse breeding program. The MARE Center is currently home to two stallions, more than 25 broodmares and foals used for nutrition, reproduction, growth and health research.
Students also visited the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Morven Park and Locust Hill Farm which breeds Thoroughbred race horses and beef cattle as well as growing and marketing hay and small grains.
Nathaniel A. White II, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, Professor and Director of the Equine Medical Center, spoke to the students about advances and opportunities in equine science.
The Penn State Equine Research Team is an official Penn State University student organization that is sponsored by the Department of Dairy and Animal Science. It is the first official undergraduate equine research team in the nation, a concept that the students and advisors hope will spread to other universities.