The Rural Veterinary Workforce Task Force has released a five-year impact summary highlighting progress in strengthening the pipeline and retention of veterinarians serving Kansas’ rural communities. The coalition includes representatives from KLA, the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, Kansas Farm Bureau, Livestock Marketing Association, Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas State University.
“KLA members rely on veterinarians for both routine and emergency animal care and are increasingly concerned about access to those services in rural Kansas,” said KLA Chief Executive Officer Matt Teagarden. “Through collaboration on the Rural Veterinary Workforce Task Force, we have made meaningful progress in expanding the number of large-animal veterinarians serving rural communities.”
From 2020 to 2025, the task force mapped 446 large- and mixed-animal veterinarians across Kansas and identified coverage gaps. A survey of more than 200 livestock producers found nearly 60% perceive a veterinary shortage.
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