Making sure animals have the medical care they need is a growing problem in Kentucky and indeed across the nation, with the aging population of current veterinarians and less students entering the field to take their place, especially in rural areas.

One public university in Kentucky is eager to turn that challenge into opportunity.

Right now, there are only 33 vet schools in the country.

22 states don't have a vet school, including here in Kentucky.

A recent study finds Murray State University in far west Kentucky has a strong foundation to build a new College of Veterinary Medicine with existing facilities, financials and expertise.

I talked to MSU President Bob Jackson earlier this week about the pitch the university is making to state lawmakers this year.

We're seeking a school of veterinary medicine in our name.

We we've been through this process many times over 52 years.

And so going back 52 years ago, we asked the General Assembly to fund a school of veterinary medicine at Murray State University that long ago.

So this is this is about our third time at this initiative.

It's an important initiative.

Kentucky is one of 22 states that does not have a school of veterinary medicine.

There are only 33 schools of veterinary medicine in the entire country.

And we're one of the most agriculturally focused states in this country which doesn't serve that need.

And so we've been trying a long time and and we feel very good about where we are.

Yeah, you feel better about it this short session than you did in the long session where we heard your appeal last year.

Sure.

Well, actually, we felt very good about it in the last session of what a lot of people have have missed in the last session.

We received funding for $60 million of veterinary Sciences building.

And so that that is really step one or step to of a school of veterinary medicine.

And so now we're seeking the enabling legislation.

It amends Chris one 64.2 95.

That means very little to most people.

But there is a prohibition in that particular statute that says that comprehensive universities cannot offer certain types of degrees.

It impacts Western Kentucky University, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and all the other camps.

And so all of us are trying to carefully, thoughtfully amend that section to allow for specific programs at our respective institutions.

Talk to us about the need for veterinarians in Kentucky.

The shortage that the state is currently experiencing, and how you think that Murray State can help solve that problem.

Well, first, the Hudson School of Agriculture of Murray State is the largest private that tech programs in the commonwealth.

So we have more students in those respective areas than any other college or University of Kentucky.

So we have a lot of students going to veterinary schools or seeking further animal science degrees once they leave Murray State.

That's first.

Last year, the Deloitte study that was done looking at these respective programs at Eastern Kentucky University in Western Kentucky University and Murray State University.

It was pointed out in this study that in 2023, 160 students in the Commonwealth, in all universities, all colleges, applied to a school of veterinary medicine.

But only 67 were accepted there.

There are more students seeking this field.

There's more need that that's out there that we have slots for in this country.

And so that's what we're trying to fix.

And it's especially a problem in rural Kentucky, and it's especially a problem among rural, large animal veterinarians and in the far west, in the Far East, I think it's it's even magnified further.

Many counties actually 80 out of 120 counties have a shortage of large animal veterinarians.

If you get this program, what do you think that does to the Murray State University's overall profile?

Well, it enhances the profile of the university, but most importantly, it assists the Commonwealth of Kentucky in an area where there's a great need, there is a great need to address the veterinary shortage and no one can dispute is indisputable as it relates to a veterinary shortage in Kentucky, especially in rural Kentucky, and especially among large animal veterinarians.

The statistics are scary, and as veterinarians are retiring, personally, I'm concerned and more concerned and total.

What does this do to our agricultural industry in the Commonwealth, the multibillion dollar industry that we need to take good care of?

It's vitally important from east to west, north to south.

You announced your retirement from Murray State University some time ago.

Are you hoping that this gets done before you exit your leadership role?

I sure hope so.

And are you.

Going to hang around longer if it does?

Oh, I bet.

I bet.

I'll see this across the finish line one way or the other.

Murray State University and this Commonwealth is very important to me personally and in serving the needs of this Commonwealth are very important to me personally.

This is, this is more than doing what's right.

This is a this is a personal issue for many of us, not just me, but for many of us to handle the needs to address the needs as it relates to animal agriculture in the Commonwealth.

And I'm a farm kid.

I grew up in LaRue County on a tobacco and beef cattle farm, and I remember those days too.

But also many friends across the Commonwealth serve in these areas, serve in in our agricultural industry in some capacity.

And they know the need and they see the need.

And many have specifically endorsed the need for a vet school in Kentucky.

Well, thank you, Dr. Bob Jackson, as always, a pleasure speaking with you.

It's always good to see.