John de la Howe to open campus veterinary clinic Aug. 27

The South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe will mark the grand opening of its campus Veterinary Clinic on Aug. 27 in McCormick, South Carolina. The clinic is designed to give students hands-on veterinary training while expanding access to spay, neuter and vaccine services in the region.

Why it matters: - The Veterinary Clinic gives students a real clinical setting to build skills in veterinary medicine, animal science and agriculture. - The clinic also expands service access for pet owners in the region through spay, neuter and vaccine services. - School leaders see the project as part of a broader push to prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders through experiential learning.

What happened: - The South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe will celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its campus Veterinary Clinic on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at 10 a.m. - The event will take place in McCormick, South Carolina, and is free and open to the public. - The clinic converts an existing campus building into a hands-on learning environment. - The ceremony will include remarks from school leadership, recognition of donors and partners, an official ribbon cutting, a clinic tour and light refreshments.

The details: - Dr. Julia Larson, DVM, will lead the Veterinary Clinic and mentor students through hands-on clinical experiences. - Larson will guide students through real-world veterinary scenarios as they build practical skills. - The school said the clinic was made possible by support from organizations and individual donors. - CoBank, the Banfield Foundation and individual donors were singled out for helping fund the project. - The school says the clinic supports its continued investment in experiential learning and helps prepare students for postsecondary education and careers. - A school social media link was included in the announcement: the school's YouTube channel.

Between the lines: - The clinic turns philanthropy into infrastructure, giving the school a new facility and students a more career-relevant learning path. - School leaders are framing the project as both an educational upgrade and a community service asset. - The emphasis on hands-on work suggests the clinic is meant to make veterinary careers feel more accessible to students who may not have had that exposure before.

What's next: - Community members can attend the opening, tour the clinic and learn more about the school's training model. - Dr. Larson is expected to begin using the clinic as a teaching site for student clinical experience. - The school plans to use the clinic to keep expanding preparation for college, careers and work in agriculture and animal science.