by Lura Roti
A pheasant hunting trip with his dad introduced Clay Schoen to South Dakota and its agricultural landscape.
鈥淭he incredible scale of the agricultural industry in South Dakota brings about a culture that is unlike anywhere else in the world. Immediately I knew that this is where I wanted to move to start a career and a family,鈥 explained Schoen, who grew up in rural Ohio raising a flock of purebred Southdown sheep.
When South Dakota captured Schoen鈥檚 attention, he was a college freshman, pursuing an Animal Science degree at a small university in Ohio. So, it is no surprise that South Dakota State University topped his list when it came time to pursue a graduate degree with the ultimate goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian.
鈥淢y career goal is to attend vet school so that I can practice food animal medicine in rural South Dakota,鈥 Schoen said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 grow up on a farm or ranch, it is difficult to buy a place and make a living as a farmer or rancher. As a veterinarian, I can be a part of rural South Dakota鈥檚 agriculture by helping farmers and ranchers.鈥
While pursuing a masters in Animal Science Schoen coaches the SDSU Wool Judging Team and conducts research that focuses on evaluating new techniques to improve preweaning lamb survivability and performance.
鈥淲orking in this area of research has given me a better understanding of how to design research projects that are applicable to producers,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t also makes me think about how in my future career I can be part of ensuring there is a link between research and making the information gained through research something producers can use to make more money on their operations.鈥
Schoen鈥檚 desire to provide agriculture producers with research-based information, inspired him to start his own LLC. 鈥淢y goal is to do sheep-based research and apply it to new technologies to help sheep producers become more efficient.鈥
Currently, Schoen is waiting to hear if he is accepted to veterinary school. Whether or not vet school is in his future, he said working to support South Dakota agriculture producers remains his focus.
鈥淥verall, my goal is to help South Dakota farmers. If I am not able to do this as a veterinarian, I know there will be other opportunities,鈥 he said.
Schoen said he appreciates South Dakota Farmers Union鈥檚 support. He is the recipient of South Dakota Farmers Union $2,500 Graduate Scholarship. As South Dakota鈥檚 largest agriculture organization, the graduate scholarship is designed to support students focused on advancing the future of agriculture in South Dakota explained Karla Hofhenke, executive director of South Dakota Farmers Union.
鈥淎 successful ag industry depends on individuals with innovative ideas and the ability to help increase efficiencies through research and technology,鈥 Hofhenke said. 鈥淭his scholarship is among the many ways our organization works to support family farmers and ranchers.”
To learn more about South Dakota Farmers Union, visit聽. |