This story by Emma Roth-Wells was first published by Valley News on Sept. 11.
TUNBRIDGE — A heavy dew covered the grass on Wednesday morning as 22 veterinary technician students from Vermont State University in Randolph deployed at the Tunbridge World’s Fair grounds.
The students, outfitted in coveralls and rubber boots, along with several faculty and staff members of the university, assisted the fair veterinarian in checking in sheep, goats and cattle who will live in close confines at the fair through Sunday.
“It’s definitely one of the more fun days,” said 19-year-old Des Pouliot, a second-year student at Vermont State University. “You get to get off campus and do actual work.”
The Tunbridge World’s Fair will showcase about 630 animals in total, according to Exhibitor Registration Superintendent Tracy Amell. Numbers are just starting to return up to where they were before 2020, she said. The animals will be the center of attention in events ranging from goat milking demonstrations, swine obstacle courses, poultry and rabbit shows, horse pulling and sheep shearing, just to name a few.
The first trailer hauling cattle pulled up around 8:30 a.m. and off came 3-year-old Alpine and her baby Amaryllis, who was born in December. These light brown Guernseys came from Rockbottom Farm in Strafford and will be shown by 14-year-old Eben Zoerheide.
As the cows came off the trailer, 18-year-old student Blakelee Hoffman used a radio frequency identification tag reader — a handheld, remote-sized device — to ensure the tag numbers in the cows’ ears matched the paperwork.
While other students checked to see if the animals had their vaccine records, Hoffman circled the cows looking for any physical signs of contagious illness, such as a runny nose, skin legion or diarrhea.
“Scrape on the back but I’m guessing it’s from the trailer,” she said, while examining Alpine.
Hoffman grew up on a farm and has shown cows at fairs herself. She said she’d always known she wanted to be a vet.
After about three minutes, the cows were all set and Zoerheide led them to their stalls, their home for the duration of the fair.
The relationship between the school and the fair began two years ago when Amanda Angell, a Vermont State University program technician, realized it could be a win-win opportunity.
Angell grew up on a dairy farm in Randolph and had visited the fair for years. She noticed there was not much of a veterinary presence, plus the students were not getting a lot of experience with large animals. That’s when she thought to herself: ‘Man, we could do cow exams pretty fast’.
“There’s a lot of paperwork with these animals and it can overwhelm the staff,” said Craig Stalnaker, a Vermont State University veterinary technology professor and program coordinator.
Having the students there quickens the pace, according to fair veterinarian Taylor Hull, of South Royalton.
“The students do a significant amount of legwork,” she said, “and it’s a really good opportunity for them to see what’s normal for a cow.”
After training for two years under the previous vet, Hull took over as fair vet in 2021, and incorporated the students into the check-in process. She said it’s rare for anyone not to pass check-in. Over the last two years only one calf had to be sent home — not for health reasons, but because it was too young.
Rachel MacAdams, of East Randolph, hosed down her 2-year-old cow Disco.
“We try to keep them clean for the judges,” she said.
The 34-year-old has been showing cows since she was 4, and has shown at the Tunbridge Fair for 29 years. She said she likes that the students have an opportunity to get experience.
By 10:30 a.m. there was a line of trailers and lots of mooing.
“It’s nice to see this side of the fair with everyone who cares about the animals,” said Vermont State University student Owen Hartman.
Hartman was born and raised in Woodstock and grew up going to the fair. He decided to go to school to be a veterinary technician after seeing some “depressing things” while working at a zoo in Pennsylvania that did not have a good veterinary team. The Vermont State University program is two years long and graduates receive an Associate of Applied Science degree.
“They’re eager, it’s good to see the students excited,” said Kristen Sayers, a program technician.
Not only did the students get valuable large animal experience, but Mark Whitney, the superintendent of oxen, also gave each of them a free day pass to the fair.
The fair kicks off Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and will be open Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Animals arrive for annual Tunbridge World’s Fair.