NDSU Animal Sciences Newsletter

The 2025 North Dakota Livestock Research Report was completed and published in August. The report is 92 pages long and contains 25 reports, which makes it one of the most extensive in recent memory. The report provides valuable information to producers and beef cattle industry personnel on the latest beef cattle research conducted by NDSU faculty, scientists, staff and students, says Dr. Kendall Swanson, the publication coordinator.

The Veterinary Technology Program in the Animal Sciences Department proudly bestowed the NDSU Agriculture Partnership Award on the Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue organization in October. The rescue assists the program and its students by providing animal educators in the form of wonderful dogs and cats that need veterinary medical care.

“The benefits of this partnership to our education program are immense,” said Stacey Ostby, co-director of the Veterinary Technology Program. “We hope this partner-ship can continue to benefit animals and future veterinary technologists for years into the future.”

The Partnership Awards, which were created earlier this year, recognize the out-standing partners of all units within the College of Agriculture.

Photo: From left, Dr. Lisa Christenson, Dawn Herford, Heather Kraus, Senior Lecturer Stacey Ostby and Dr. Greg Lardy celebrate the Vet Tech Program’s partnership with Turtle Mountain.

What was your field of study at NDSU?
I majored in Veterinary Technology.

When did you attend?
Between 2014 and 2018.

What are you doing nowadays?
I'm back at home in the Bahamas, working as a Certified Veterinary Technician/Assistant at Dolphin Cay, Atlantis. I work mainly with bottlenose dolphins, and California and South American sea lions. However, we also care for the company's full aquarium collection, security's K9 unit, as well as any stray cats that live on property. It's quite an active job, so in my downtime, my hobbies are comparatively much more mellow: sewing, reading, traveling — old lady hobbies, basically.

What is one of your favorite classroom/campus memories?
My favorite campus memory actually happened right after a lecture in my junior year. As an island girl, born and raised, I had never seen snow until I came to NDSU. I remember walking through the Quentin Burdick Building one day and saying to a classmate that I was so proud to have never slipped on ice, even though I had been in Fargo for three years. So, of course, Murphy's Law took place as soon as we got out-side, and I almost immediately slipped and slid all the way down an icy ramp. I was unhurt (besides a little bruised ego), but the timing of it all makes me smile to this day.

What did you learn at NDSU that has helped you the most in your career/life?
I think being at NDSU taught me how to grow up. When I moved to North Dakota, that was my first time living away from my parents. NDSU was the perfect middle ground between dependency and independence. The staff and overall community were patient and thorough in their teachings, and I feel like that environment set me up for success in my future.

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming Alumni Spotlight or know someone you’d like to nominate, please contact Darla White below with the information.