The path to veterinary medicine doesn’t always begin in a clinic. This summer, Paige Reynolds is finding it at farmers markets, on Rhode Island farms, and in conversations with the women helping shape the state’s agricultural community.
The University of Rhode Island animal science major on the pre-veterinary track can be found interviewing farmers, helping manage farmers markets, and connecting communities with locally grown food. Along the way, she’s building a deeper understanding of the connections between animal health, agriculture, and food systems.
Behind the Scenes of Rhode Island Agriculture
Reynolds, a rising sophomore at URI, is one of URI Cooperative Extension’s Agriculture and Food Systems Fellows, placed with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (RIDEM) Division of Agriculture under the Year of the Woman Farmer campaign. “Our mission is to increase access and visibility for female farmers throughout the state,” she says.
The fellowship may not look like a traditional pre-veterinary job, but Reynolds says it has given her a broader understanding of the agricultural systems that support animal health and food production. “I’m behind the scenes of agriculture,” she says of the position. “It really enriches my understanding of agriculture across the state— there are so many different sectors.”
As part of the fellowship, Reynolds interviews women farmers from across Rhode Island, sharing their stories through RI Grown’s social media channels. She also helps manage farmers markets, assists with nutrition incentive programs that double the purchasing power of SNAP recipients, connects with vendors and community members, and visits farms throughout the state.
One recent visit to a livestock farm left a lasting impression. “The farmer gave us a full tour, and being able to see the animals and hear her talk about the processes she has with them really expanded my knowledge,” she says. “Not only was it refreshing what I had already learned in class, but I was learning new things, too.”
Those experiences complement Reynolds’ long-term goal of becoming a veterinary pathologist, diagnosing diseases across a wide range of animal species. “It’s not just the pathology,” she says. “Even learning about simple things like nutrition and animal care and welfare — that’s really important. It relates to what I want to do.”
In addition to their placements, fellows participate in 33-hour summer industry trainings that introduce them to farms, agencies, and organizations across Rhode Island. Reynolds has already gleaned strawberries at URI’s Agronomy Farm, learned food preservation techniques, and toured agricultural operations around the state, the Rhode Island State House, and RIDEM headquarters.
Building Community on Campus
During her first semester, Reynolds took her first animal science lab at Peckham Farm, an experience that confirmed she had chosen the right major. “I’m a hands-on learner,” she says. “Being able to work with the animals made me realize, ‘I’m actually training to do what I want to do for the rest of my life.'”
The Coventry, Rhode Island, native is now working toward the accelerated FEEPASS Glasgow program, which would let her complete her senior year of undergrad alongside her first year of veterinary school at the University of Glasgow — with her sights set on veterinary pathology and the study of disease across species.
Outside the classroom, Reynolds has immersed herself in campus life. She serves as the incoming secretary of the Animal and Veterinary Science Club, helps care for goats through the club’s Coco Committee — including bringing them to local nursing homes for therapeutic visits — and is active in both Delta Epsilon Mu, the pre-health professional fraternity, and Delta Phi Epsilon sorority.
She credits those experiences with helping her grow more confident and outgoing while building a strong sense of community at URI. “I really wanted to go into college and get a fresh start,” she says. “Joining different organizations has helped me meet so many different people.”
Looking back on a year filled with new experiences, from interviewing farmers to planning for veterinary school, Reynolds says every opportunity has reinforced the same lesson: growth happens outside your comfort zone.
For prospective students, Reynolds encourages saying yes to opportunities — even those that don’t perfectly match a career plan. “Just go for any opportunity that comes your way that interests you,” she says. “You never know what you’re going to find.”
To learn more about the RI Agricultural and Food Systems programs, click here.