Sowing the seeds of the future

In the heart of the community, two high school agriculture education students are sowing the seeds of their future careers by completing an internship at local veterinary clinics. These two are gaining hands-on experience and also nurturing a passion for animal care and well-being.

Seniors Gemma Dotts and Chelsea Storrie work side by side with veterinarians and gain experience in the industry they have a desire to be in after their post-secondary education plans.

Dotts has been working closely with Dr. Mike Brothers, Dr. Dale Covey and Dr. Angie Metzger and veterinary technicians at Oak Pointe Veterinary Care in Dover. Her favorite part is getting to assist technicians and working on technical skills such as restraints.

“Getting to work with so many animals and being able to help keep them healthy is the most rewarding part of the job,” Dotts said.

Meanwhile, Storrie has had the opportunity to work with Dr. Fisher in Dennison at Twin City Veterinary Outpatient Clinic. She has enjoyed learning to work in a fast-paced environment.

“I love working with the animals and seeing each case the clients bring,” Storrie said.

This hands-on experience has provided them the chance to observe and practice technical skills and gives them insight to what the career field has to offer.

The Claymont High School agriculture program currently has 65 students. The program offers a variety of classes including agriculture, food and natural resources; animal and plant science; animal anatomy and physiology; greenhouse management; and food science. The agriculture education program and FFA work as intracurricular programs to develop high school students. The Claymont High School agriculture teacher is Sydney Burns.

Visit www.claymontffa.theaet.org.