COLLEGE STATION, Texas — More than 20 years of service, one professor here at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicial Sciences has put in the work for a legacy beyond College Station.
“Houston is responsible for my very first scholarship that I got to come to Texas A&M,” said Dr. Leslie Easterwood. “They also continued to support my education as I went to veterinary school, and I received several scholarships while in veterinary school as well.”
Dr. Easterwood is a clinical associate professor at Texas A&M University and one of two veterinarians helping with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
“I see cases with our fourth-year veterinarian students on a daily basis,” Dr. Easterwood said. “I have equine community practice as my rotation, so we do all the routine health heard work on most of the school herds. We have about 350 university-owned horses within two miles of this building.”
In 1986, Dr. Easterwood began her journey with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo when she received a Houston scholarship in high school.
She was an exhibitor for the show and served as an Aggie student intern in 1987.
“I have been full time with the show 24 days a year, 24/7, 365 days a year since 2003,” Dr. Easterwood said.
A large portion of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo scholarships funnels right here to Aggieland to support student’s education in veterinary science.
“Houston Livestock Show has generated $600 million since 1932 to give back to the educational expenses of the youth of Texas, and specifically, Texas A&M is the number one receiver of those scholarship funds,” Dr. Easterwood said.
Her role at the rodeo includes mentoring future ag professionals and students and caring for 18,000 livestock animals.
She said it’s all about giving back to the organization that poured into her as a student.
“It’s really nice to be able to give back and inspire the next generation but also support the next generation coming behind us,” Dr. Easterwood said.
More than 700 Aggies benefit from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each year, totaling more than $85 million in scholarships.
Trending stories at KRHDNews.com
- ‘Completely booked’: King of Country brings College Station hotels to capacity
- 'Together We Grow' provides skills for the community to enter the workforce
- Rockdale Chamber of Commerce cancels Farmer's Market after social media backlash
Follow Diamond Dickson for the latest news in the Brazos Valley