Utah State University (USU) and the College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the opening of the Thomas and Patricia Willis Veterinary Medical Education building on Friday. John Ferry, a pivotal figure in establishing the veterinary college, remarked, "If you are involved in animal agriculture in any way, today is your day."
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The ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting led by Thomas and Patricia Willis, who donated $5 million to support the building and an endowment for the college. Tom Willis stated, "We saw this as an opportunity to invest in future generations." The building, which spans 113,000 square feet and took over two years to complete, was designed by VCBO Architects in Salt Lake City and built by Jacobsen Construction, with 30 out of 41 subcontractors based in Utah.
Guests toured the facility, which includes a tiered lecture hall, research labs, veterinary exam rooms, classrooms, and outdoor areas for animal enrichment. Dirk Vanderwall, dean of the veterinary college, noted that such facilities did not exist during his veterinary education and emphasized the building's design focused on student needs, including ten mock exam rooms for training.
USU President Brad Mortensen expressed appreciation for the collaborative support from the Utah Legislature and other partners in realizing the vision for Utah's first veterinary school. In the week leading up to the opening, 77 new students were welcomed as part of the Class of 2030, donning white coats that symbolize their entry into the veterinary profession.
Other speakers at the event included Kelby Anderson, president of the Class of 2029, Utah State Rep. Casey Snider, and Sen. Chris Wilson, among others.
The event also marked the debut of a bronze sculpture titled "A Long Tale," depicting a veterinarian with various animals, inspired by James Herriot's book, celebrating the daily challenges and victories in veterinary work. This sculpture was commissioned through the Percent-For-Art Act, which allocates part of funding for public art in Utah.