A kind father and daughter duo recently donated a $44 million cattle farm to a veterinary school of medicine. Their goal is to offer students a unique resource to learn about animal medicine, ethical farming, and sustainable agriculture.
Jack, a 90-year-old father, and his daughter Wynne Chisholm have been managing W.W. Ranches since 2005m when the senior turned away from his job in the gas and oil field. The duo is now donating a 19,000-acre farm to the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary medicine.
Among the few conditions involved with the generous donation is guaranteed employment for their five full-time ranch workers and access to visiting the farm from to time. Aside from that, the university will take on full ownership of the ranch and all its assets.
Chisholm discussed her and her father’s love for the land withThe National Post, “It was important to us that we would still be allowed to come onto the ranch, particularly at calving time, and see the animals. My dad will probably still want to do a drive-around weekly as he does now, to be able to see what’s happening.”
She continued, “Our hope is that this gift will transform the teaching, learning and outreach experiences at UCVM, and empower faculty and students to create and share the scientific, evidence-based discoveries that will improve animal care and welfare, enhance our industry, and inform the public…”
The dean of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Baljit Sigh, shared, “The gift of a cattle ranch of this size and caliber offers unprecedented educational opportunities within the dynamic and innovative teaching model practiced at the university. The ranch will provide a platform for collaboration with other faculties, industry and the public sector to foster interdisciplinary learning and research, and the development of an international center of excellence in beef cattle health.”
University president, Elizabeth Cannon, said, “This gift will advance the leadership of our Faculty of Veterinary Medicine even further, providing a unique opportunity for our students to engage in immersive learning, develop their professional skills, and make the connections between human, animal and environmental health…”