Richmond, Virginia—The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC) on October 31 announced seven veterinarians have been awarded Large Animal Veterinary Grants totaling $890,000. These grants are intended to help boost large animal veterinary services across the Commonwealth.

VDACS launched the Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program on July 1, 2025. VDACS funds were available for four recipients to receive up to $110,000 each. TRRC funded three recipients in southern and southwest Virginia with grants of $150,000 each. The awards will be used to expand and sustain existing practices. They will also be used to open new operations like a standalone large animal clinic and a haul-in facility.

Addressing an ongoing shortage

There is an ongoing shortage of large animal veterinarians in Virginia and across the country. This has serious implications for animal health, farm operations, food safety and the agricultural economy. The Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program program was signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2025. It is intended to incentivize veterinarians to establish or grow large animal veterinary practices in the Commonwealth. The TRRC program’s goal is to increase the availability of veterinary services to livestock producers in southern and southwest Virginia.

“We are committed in the Commonwealth to helping large animal veterinarians succeed, so they can continue providing such vital services to our farmers and rural communities,” said VDACS State Veterinarian Dr. Charlie Broaddus. “There is clearly a great need for these funds, with the state receiving 43 strong and deserving applications this grant period from dedicated veterinarians across the state. These providers are integral to our food supply and rural economies, and we are proud to invest in top quality care and long-term practice viability.”

“Livestock, especially cattle, are the primary drivers of the agricultural economy of southern and southwest Virginia,” said the TRRC Chairman Delegate Will Morefield. “This is a prime example of the Commission listening to our producers and the communities we serve and utilizing our unique flexibility to generate solutions that will make a real difference. I am thrilled to see these veterinarians increase their capacity to serve those who form the foundation of our rural economy.”

Grant recipients

Recipients of the 2025 VDACS Large Animal Veterinary Grant are:

• Dr. Nathaniel Burke of Luray
• Dr. James Cassell of Galax
• Dr. Keagan Clevenger of Rockbridge Baths
• Dr. Sherri Gard of Suffolk

Recipients of the 2025 TRRC Large Animal Veterinary Incentive Program are:

• Dr. Travis Gilmer of Scott County
• Dr. Mary Tomlinson of Galax
• Dr. Suzanne Newcombe of Gretna

Grant recipients were chosen by a panel of industry representatives using a standardized scoring rubric. This considered applicants’ ability to have significant impact on their communities. The judging panel included the state veterinarian as well as representatives from TRRC, the Virginia Farm Bureau, the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Academy of Food Animal Practitioners and the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association.

Ensuring needed support

“Farmers have long struggled with a shortage of large animal vets—and we’ve been working hard to change that,” said Virginia Farm Bureau President Scott Sink. “Partnering with Senator Travis Hackworth and Delegate Alfonso Lopez, we helped create a grant program to support these vital professionals. The first awards have been announced, providing essential funding to veterinarians who serve our agricultural communities. These grants will strengthen practices and expand services, ensuring farmers have the support they need to keep their livestock healthy and their operations thriving.”

Funds will be disbursed over a multi-year period. This is intended to help keep large animal veterinarians committed to their local communities and able to sustain their practices. Grant funds may be used for a variety of business expenses. These might include practice establishment and expansion, student loan repayment, technician salaries, equipment and more.

For more information on the grant program, visit the VDACS website.