F.A.R.M. is a training course held by former CVM long-term field staff member Dr. Mary McDonald with a focus on refreshing your veterinary skills before heading out to serve in missions. The course is held periodically throughout the year at Mary’s farm in Virginia. Download the current dates here, or contact marymcdonald@sams-usa.org
Learning Objectives
To gain confidence and improved skill in handling equine, ovine, bovine and poultry to better equip them for mission work. To practice handling, vaccinating, hoof trimming, and deworming equine, bovine, ovine and poultry.
The Course Includes
This is a basic course on livestock handling, vaccinating, de-worming and discussions on what animal healthcare concerns you may encounter on a short-term missions trip. Cattle, sheep, horses, poultry and swine will be covered. Additional topics include “Spiritual Preparation for Short-Term Missions,” “How to Share the Gospel Cross-Culturally,” and “Zoonotic Diseases You Want to Avoid.”
Recommended Resources
This course has you working through Learning Together at the training and copies will be available for your reference. This and two additional books listed below are highly recommended. (You are not required to read or purchase these books ahead of time). If you would like to purchase them, click the links below. Feel free to peruse our full list of CVM-authored resources and other helpful resources that may interest you.
- Learning Together: The Agricultural Worker’s Participatory Sourcebook
- When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…And Yourself
- Where There is No Animal Doctor
Location
Spend Yourselves Farm 7474 Blacksburg Rd. Catawba, VA 24070
What to Bring
Bedding will be provided. You will need a pair of boots and long pants. Please do not bring steel-toed boots as a heavy animal may step on your toe and bend the steel so you can’t remove your boot.