Indiana FFA Names PVM’s Julia Wickard as One of Five New Board Members

portrait of a woman with curly hair, wearing a striped yellow and white shirt and a black jacket with an American flag pin

Executive Director of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association and Constituent Liaison Julia Wickard is one of five newly named members of the Indiana FFA Foundation board of directors. The appointments took effect July 1.

Wickard said she is honored and excited to join the Indiana FFA Foundation board. “FFA helped shape my passion for agriculture, leadership, and service, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back,” Wickard shared. “I look forward to supporting the Foundation’s mission by helping connect partners, strengthen opportunities, and invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders.” Wickard added that she is ready to serve alongside an outstanding group of individuals committed to making a difference for Indiana FFA members.

Joining Wickard as new board members are Jeanette Merritt, director of communications for Indiana Pork; Melissa Rekeweg, president and chief executive officer of the AgriBusiness Council of Indiana (ACI); Bryan Gregg, town manager of Trafalgar; and Spencer House, director of system operations for Wabash Valley Power Alliance.

Wickard brings to the board extensive experience in agricultural public service, including leading the USDA Farm Service Agency in Indiana and holding senior leadership positions with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the Indiana Beef Cattle Association and the Indiana Department of Agriculture. She also worked for two members of Congress in Washington and served on numerous agricultural boards and commissions. She and her family raise registered Angus cattle and Boer goats on a Centennial farm they operate in Hancock County.

As reported in an article July 2 in Hoosier Ag Today, the Indiana FFA Foundation reshaped its leadership at a pivotal moment for the organization, just months after the foundation announced a $1 million fundraising campaign to renovate the Main Lodge at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center, in conjunction with a $500,000 matching grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The Main Lodge is a facility that hosts thousands of FFA members, educators and community groups each year.

The Indiana FFA Foundation’s mission is to support, fund, and promote the programs and objectives of the Indiana FFA Association. Through scholarships, leadership development initiatives, educational programming and capital investments such as the Leadership Center renovation, the organization seeks to strengthen the pipeline of future agricultural leaders.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Taco ’bout our amazing people!

With the conclusion of the summer season rapidly approaching, faculty and staff at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine were treated to a taco luncheon on Friday, August 14 in appreciation of their excellence and dedication throughout the year. Though the event couldn't take place in the Lynn Hall Courtyard as originally planned, the rainy weather that day did not dampen the celebration of the college's incredible faculty and staff.

Reception honors visiting Japanese DVM and veterinary technology students

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s partnership with two veterinary schools in Japan was the basis for a celebratory reception at the end of last week, as the college honored visiting students from Kitasato University and Rakuno Gakuen University. The eight member delegation included four DVM students and a faculty member from Kitasato University and two veterinary nursing students and a faculty member from Rakuno Gakuen University. The reception on Friday morning, August 14, served as an informal farewell and included a brief recognition program when each of the Japanese visitors received a commemorative certificate.

ADDL and CPB Department welcome new pathology residents and intern

A trio of veterinary graduates started their pathology residencies at Purdue Veterinary Medicine this summer while a fourth veterinarian began a pathology internship in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology. This newest class of students pursuing post-DVM training in pathology includes Purdue veterinary alumni and graduates of universities abroad.

PVM Team Shares Collaborative Approach at National Advancement Conference

When alumni and donors choose to invest their time, talents, and resources in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, they typically are not focusing on departments or organizational charts—they're thinking about the college they love. That simple idea was the foundation of a presentation delivered by Julia Wickard, executive director of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association and constituent liaison, and April Shepherd, PVM’s senior director of development, at the Association of Veterinary Advancement Professionals (AVAP) Annual Meeting, which was held July 8-10, just prior to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Annual Convention in Anaheim, California.

“Paws Up” for Lanora Lannan – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we are happy to highlight Lanora Lannan, who is the client liaison for Small Animal Primary Care.

“Paws Up” for Dr. Michelle Tucker – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we are highlighting Dr. Michelle Tucker, who is an assistant professor of large animal surgery, for contributing to a rewarding learning environment here at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine and Purdue Football Share Bullish Outlook at Summer Event

Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh, DVM, recently attended the Purdue Football Coaches Celebration at McGraw’s Purdue Chop House in West Lafayette, where he connected with new Purdue Head Football Coach Barry Odom. The event, hosted by McGraw’s owner Todd McGraw, also featured an opportunity to meet “Odom,” the Purdue Beef Angus Bull that serves as the latest symbol of Boilermaker pride.

Recognition Ceremony Honors VCS Residents, Graduate Students, and Purdue Veterinary Hospital Interns

More than 100 faculty and staff of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) and the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital (PVH) gathered at Lafayette’s Thomas Duncan Hall on Thursday, June 26 for the 2025 Resident and Intern Recognition Ceremony. The historic venue was a wonderful place to host this annual event that honors and celebrates the accomplishments of the VCS and PVH residents, interns, and graduate students who are completing their programs this summer.