Great Falls College's Vet Tech Program Receives Usda Grant

GREAT FALLS — Great Falls College’s Veterinary Technician program got a huge boost thanks to a $250,000 workforce training grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The grant is part of the U.S.DA.’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative as it invested in training at community colleges through its Education and Workforce Development program area.

“This grant is making a huge difference to our brand-new program,” said Julie Barnwell, Health Sciences division director at Great Falls College. “We are able develop an online curriculum, cover the cost of the initial accreditation, attend conferences and build out our network with these funds. We also are able to purchase software, simulation models and online library materials vital to making the online program a success.”

Great Falls College’s Vet Office program is midway through its first semester with 26 students from throughout Montana. During the first semester, students acquire an understanding of the office duties and communication skills essential to the industry as they earn a certificate of technical studies in Veterinary Office. They also are learning the foundational knowledge needed to be successful in the Veterinary Technician program.

The students will officially apply to the Veterinary Technician program as they finish the Veterinary Office certificate.

“Student feedback thus far reflects a common theme of a deeper understanding of how vital the front staff is and a new respect for the role they play within the team,” said Annie Bryan, Veterinary Technician program director.

Once officially in the Veterinary Technician program, students will continue taking the classroom portion of the program online and will pair with approved veterinary partners to perform the required hands-on skills.

“This grant also will help us pay to bring those approved veterinary partners to Great Falls to receive training,” Barnwell said. “We also will be able to provide the students with video equipment to film their hands-on assignments for the instructors to review and go over with students kind of like a football coach going over game film with the team.”

The veterinary partners play a key role in the success of the program, Barnwell said.

“We started this program when we learned from veterinary professionals about the critical shortage of licensed technicians across Montana,” Bryan said. “We now need veterinarians across the state to help us grow the next generation of veterinary technicians. This grant will allow us to help them help us in making that happen.”

Great Falls College is celebrating Veterinary Technician week this week.

Those with questions about the program or who are interested in becoming an approved veterinary partner can reach Bryan at [email protected] or 406-771-5155.

Great Falls College’s Veterinary Technician program is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI Agricultural Workforce Training Priority Area, award #2024-67037-42973.