From dairy farm to farm vet

Growing up on a dairy farm played a huge part in shaping Harriet’s ambition to become a vet.  

Now, as she prepares to start work as a farm vet in Devon, Harriet reflects on the journey to her first role. 

Harriet said: “Our farm vet was also a huge influence on me. She was always encouraging and happy to let me get involved, which really helped to spark my interest in the profession. I was particularly fascinated by pregnancy scanning, and I remember being about eight or nine years old and trying to bribe her with chocolate to let me have a feel when she was scanning the cows!  

“What has always appealed to me about being a vet is the combination of working with animals, being outdoors, solving problems and working closely with farmers. 

“While my interests have developed throughout vet school, particularly my interest in advanced reproduction and technologies such as IVF, my farming background has always remained at the heart of why I wanted to become a vet. It continues to influence the kind of vet I want to be and the way I see the profession.” 

A member of the Class of 2026, Harriet graduated in September and received several academic awards in recognition of her achievements throughout the five-year Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree.  

Harriet cites getting involved with the netball team at Harper Adams University as an important way to balance the demands of the course, offering a chance to exercise, have fun, and spend time with friends. “Some of my fondest university memories have come from the social side of netball and the people I’ve met along the way; particularly the many occasions where we’ve ended up dressed in ridiculous outfits!  

“I would encourage anyone to get involved in clubs and societies alongside vet school. It’s a great way to meet people outside your course and have something that gives you a proper break from veterinary medicine.” 

“Clinically, rotations and extra-mural studies have probably been some of the most valuable parts of the course for me. Having the opportunity to work closely with vets and learn in a supportive, relatively low-pressure environment has taught me so much. You can ask questions, see a huge variety of cases and, importantly, have a go at things before you’re expected to do them independently.

 “They have also been a really important part of helping me discover what I’m particularly interested in. Through different placements, I was able to experience areas of practice that I hadn’t necessarily considered before, and this is where I developed a real passion for advanced reproduction. I think placements are a great opportunity to find out what you genuinely enjoy, as sometimes it’s only by getting out into practice and experiencing something first-hand that you realise it’s an area you could see yourself pursuing.” 

As we look to welcome a new cohort of veterinary students, we asked Harriet what she would tell anyone about to start vet school: “My biggest piece of advice would be to be enthusiastic and make the most of every opportunity, while also being prepared to work hard. Veterinary medicine can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. 

Get as much experience as you can, and don’t limit yourself to one species or area because you think you already know what you want to do. Placements and extra-mural studies are a great way to experience different sides of the profession and you may discover interests you hadn’t considered.”