By Blake Jackson
The 2026 Veterinary Medicine Career Exploration program is now open for high school students in grades 10-12 who are interested in exploring careers in veterinary medicine. This lecture-based program, held at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center in the Agriculture Exhibit Hall, runs on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:45 PM on February 11 and 25, and March 4, 11, and 18, 2026.
While the program is not hands-on, it offers participants a comprehensive overview of veterinary careers through a series of lectures and experiences.
Topics covered include veterinary college admissions, small and companion animal medicine, integrative medicine, veterinary technology, zoo and exotic medicine, and specializations such as lab animal medicine, emergency and critical care, and more.
Students will also complete a veterinarian shadowing experience, which must be done prior to the final session, and participate in a tour of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County Farm and Education Center on either February 28 or March 8, 2026.
Successful completion of the program including attendance at all sessions with no more than one absence and completion of the shadowing requirement earns participants a Certificate of Completion and eligibility for the LIVMA Veterinary School scholarship.
Pre-registration is required, with registration opening January 7, 2026. The program fee is $110 per student, with one guardian welcome to attend at no additional cost.
Programs may be cancelled up to ten days before the first session without penalty, though a $50 cancellation fee applies if cancelled within ten days.
For questions or accommodation requests, students and families can contact Kate Perz, 4-H Animal Science Program Coordinator, at kp99@cornell.edu or 631-852-4603. Interested students can register online at Suffolk County Farm Registration.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-jessicahyde
Categories: New York, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle