Purdue Veterinary Medicine Celebrates Indiana Agriculture at Farm to Capitol Event

Kelly Dold, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Purdue Veterinary Hospital and ADDL, talks with visitors at the Purdue Veterinary Medicine booth during the Farm to Capitol celebration May 7 in downtown Indianapolis.

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine was well represented at the second annual Farm to Capitol celebration last week in downtown Indianapolis. Hosted by Indiana’s Family of Farmers (IFOF), the event on Thursday, May 7, was held at the Bicentennial Plaza and brought together agricultural organizations, industry leaders, state employees, legislators, and members of the public.

Indiana’s Family of Farmers is a collaborative nonprofit organization composed of numerous agricultural partners, including the Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Purdue University, Indiana Board of Animal Health, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, American Dairy Association Indiana, Indiana Pork Producers, and the Indiana Soybean Alliance. The organization focuses on consumer outreach and education while promoting the importance of Indiana agriculture, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed interactive exhibits, livestock displays, local food vendors, farmers’ market booths, and educational activities highlighting the vital role agriculture plays in Indiana’s economy and everyday life. The event transformed the area between the Indiana Statehouse and Government Centers into a festive setting that showcased the state’s food, fiber, and fuel industries.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine was pleased to actively participate alongside agricultural organizations and highlight the essential role veterinary medicine plays in supporting animal health, public health, food safety, and Indiana agriculture. Representing the College of Veterinary Medicine were Kelly Dold, marketing and communications manager for the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital and Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory; Julia Wickard, executive director of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association and constituent liaison; and April Shepherd, senior director of development for Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture. During their time at the PVM booth, they were able to engage with Indianapolis residents, state government employees, and policymakers while sharing how veterinarians contribute to the well-being of animals, people, and communities across the state.

More information about Indiana’s Family of Farmers is available here.

Writer(s): PVM News | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

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

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.

Alumnus and Oncology Specialist Dr. Christopher Fulkerson Appointed as Associate Dean for Purdue Veterinary Hospitals

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret D. Marsh, DVM, has named Dr. Christopher Fulkerson as Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Chief Veterinary Officer for the Purdue Veterinary Hospitals. The appointment was announced July 1, the same day that Dr. Fulkerson’s promotion to full Clinical Professor of Veterinary Medical Oncology took effect.

“Paws Up” for the ADDL Accessioning and Molecular Teams – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, we express our sincere gratitude to our ADDL Accessioning and Molecular Teams (and cross trained individuals).

PVM Dean Bret Marsh Shares College Update with Swine Producers and Industry Partners at Major Swine Event in Indianapolis

Swine Health was the focus of a significant event recently at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis as swine industry partners and swine producers gathered for the National Junior Summer Spectacular (NJSS) and Summer Type Conference (STC). The event was held at the end of June in the Fall Creek Pavillion and included a Swine Health Briefing that featured swine industry and veterinary medicine leaders including Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh, who also had an opportunity to provide an update on the College of Veterinary Medicine.

2026 Annual Recognition Ceremony Honors VCS Residents, Graduate Students, and PVH Interns

On Monday, June 29, 2026, more than 100 faculty and staff from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital gathered at Thomas Duncan Hall for the 2026 Resident and Intern Recognition Ceremony. This annual event provides a great opportunity to honor and celebrate the contributions of the residents, interns, and graduate students who are completing their programs this summer.

New Administrative Assistant Joins PVM Office of Student Success

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine welcomes Charity Holden as the new administrative assistant in the Office of Student Success.

“Paws Up” for Scott Fix – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we are highlighting Scott Fix who is the Lead Facilities Manager in the Department of Veterinary Administration.

Remembering Zeus: A Legacy of Loyalty and Love

We continue our series of articles about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital by sharing the story of a beloved dog named Zeus. For Amy Fitzsimmons-Blaising, Zeus wasn’t just a dog, he was her spirit animal and best friend. A proud Giant Schnauzer bred in Bedford, Indiana, Zeus had been the heart of Amy’s home for 11 unforgettable years. Then, in October 2024, Zeus’s health challenges began, when he started coughing and showing signs that looked like seizures. After rushing him to a local veterinary urgent care facility, Amy learned he was in congestive heart failure, and she turned to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital for help.

PVM Scholar Receives Purdue WGHI Pilot Grant Aimed at Advancing Women’s Health

Purdue University’s Women’s Global Health Institute (WGHI) has announced six pilot research grant awards aimed at solving critical problems in women’s health and quality of life, and one of recipients is Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty member Viju Vijayan Pillai. Dr. Pillai is assistant professor of anatomic pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

The universal socket set of vaccines: Innovative technology heralds more effective, more efficient vaccines

You fight fire with fire. And Purdue Veterinary Medicine vaccine expert Suresh Mittal fights viruses with viruses. Using innovative techniques, Dr. Mittal, Distinguished Professor of Virology in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, develops novel vaccines for viral infections including avian influenza.