Lexington-Richland School District Five students participating in the Center for Advanced Technical Studies’ veterinary science program are receiving some invaluable, hands-on learning experiences with animals.

Students in the program are exposed to cows, chickens, pigs, horses, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, dogs and the class favorite, baby goats. Jessica Hidalgo, veterinary science teacher at the Center said the programs are designed to give students as much experience as possible in the different animal fields.

“The veterinary science program encompasses a wide variety of topics. Our goal is that when students move on to the college level or career level that they have had enough experience with a wide variety of species so that they are going to be competent and successful,” said Hidalgo.

Veterinary science student Jordyn Henry-Jeter thinks the hands-on experience is invaluable since she wants to be a veterinarian one day.

“It just teaches you skills for life,” said Henry-Jeter. “I want to be a vet and I can imagine being a livestock vet. That would be really fun and interacting with the goats and having this experience really helps you learn about real life.”

Fellow veterinary science student Logan Griggs said the hands-on programs at the Center are setting her and her classmates up for success upon graduating high school.

“I think it’s important to further our career later in life. It’s going to give you more experience when you get to college, especially vet school. We’ve already learned handling and restraint techniques, which is one of the first things you learn your first year in vet school. We get hands-on experience with the horses, goats, and especially dogs with grooming. If you want to apprentice as a groomer you’ve already got experience. I think it’s just really important getting hands-on,” said Griggs.

Animal science teacher John Asbill has been teaching at the Center for six years now and said getting up close to the animals not only teaches the students real world knowledge, but life skills as well.