International experience in Italy highlights connections among agriculture and animal health
In Italy, the lessons were everywhere.
They were in the olive and apple orchards, where agriculture and tradition intersected. They were in the vineyards of the Prosecco Hills and family-owned wineries in Tuscany. They were in an equestrian center outside Bologna and, perhaps most notably, inside the veterinary teaching facilities inside the University of Padova.
For nearly two weeks in April, members of the University of Georgia’s Advancing Georgia’s Leaders in Agriculture and Forestry program traveled across Italy, exploring agriculture, forestry, natural resources and veterinary medicine while building relationships with fellow leaders.
AGL is a collaboration among the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, and now College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Participating in the AGL program and this recent trip truly reinforced for me how valuable it is to have veterinarians at the table with our agricultural partners,” said Marti Brick, senior director of community relations at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. “Our work is deeply interconnected, and when veterinarians are fully engaged alongside producers and industry leaders, it strengthens not only animal health but the overall resilience and sustainability of agriculture.”
From left, Ann Reddish, Hill’s Pet Nutrition; Keri Riddick, Georgia Veterinary Medical Association; Marti Brick, UGA VetMed.
From Venice to Padua
The AGL class began its Italian experience with a flight from Atlanta to Venice. After arriving, participants traveled by private boat to Murano, where they visited a glass-blowing factory before continuing to their hotel in Venice-Mestre.
The following day offered the first look at the agricultural connections that would become a theme throughout the trip. After a walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and time exploring Venice, the group traveled by boat to Sant’Erasmo, known as the “Vegetable Garden of Venice,” for a presentation from Carlo Nicoletto, professor at the University of Padova Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment.
From there, the group traveled to the University of Padova, one of the world’s oldest universities, meeting with faculty and leaders from agriculture and veterinary medicine before touring the university’s agriculture campus and veterinary teaching hospital.
For Brick, the visit highlighted how many challenges facing veterinary medicine transcend borders. Padova is expanding its campus and evolving its curriculum while also navigating rural veterinary shortages—issues that echo conversations in Georgia.
“We also heard similar concerns from the equine veterinarian at the equine arena, which reinforced that these are not isolated issues, but global ones,” Brick said. “It was a good reminder that while our settings may differ, many of our core challenges and opportunities are shared.”
Brick was also struck by the veterinary school’s approach to the client experience. Its waiting area had been transformed into an aviary-inspired space, complete with bird sounds designed to create a calming environment.
“It was a simple but powerful example of how intentional design can improve both animal and client well-being,” Brick said.
The bigger picture
Parmigiano Reggiano
Veterinary medicine was one part of a much larger exploration of Italy’s agricultural system.
After Padua, the group traveled through the Prosecco Hills, learning about centuries of sustainable viticulture practices and visiting experimental wine-making facilities. The next day, participants explored fruit production in Belfiore, including both conventional and organic operations, before continuing to Verona.
The agricultural focus continued with visits to an artisanal cheese producer and an acetaia, or balsamic vinegar producer, before the group turned its attention back toward animals with a visit to Scuderia Cavalcare, an equestrian training center.
For Dr. Keri Riddick, executive director of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the current AGL cohort, seeing the connections among these industries broadened her perspective as a veterinarian.
“While I have a strong understanding of the veterinary business, learning about the challenges facing forestry and agriculture has broadened my perspective on what veterinarians encounter with clients,” Riddick said. “It reinforced the importance of understanding our clients’ markets so we can better serve animals and their owners.”
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The trip then moved south, taking participants through Florence before arriving at UGA’s Cortona campus. There, the group experienced farm-to-table pasta making and continued exploring Italy’s agricultural traditions through visits to agricultural schools, wineries and family agritourism businesses.
The final days in Italy brought the group to Rome, where participants learned about European Union policy and met with representatives of the European Commission and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations before gathering for a farewell dinner.
Bringing veterinary medicine to the table
AGL is a two-year leadership development program designed for participants to gain a broader perspective on agriculture and natural resources by visiting farms, businesses, engaging with legislators, exploring policy issues, and traveling internationally.
With veterinary medicine now represented in the program, UGA VetMed sees an opportunity to strengthen connections among veterinarians, producers and other agricultural leaders across Georgia.
“Before integrating the college of veterinary medicine into our program, a vital part of the leadership conversation was missing. Leaders simply cannot advocate for protein production, ecosystem health, or sustainable land management without grounding themselves in the science of animal health,” said Lauren Griffeth, program director for AGL. “VetMed is a foundational pillar of the agriculture and natural resources community, and it deserves a seat at the table.”
Verona Arena
For Riddick, that collaborative spirit is one of the program’s greatest strengths.
“AGL has become one of the most meaningful programs I have participated in since graduating from veterinary school,” she said. “From its distinctive selection process to its focus on personal and professional leadership development and the expansion of my network of colleagues and friends, the experience has been invaluable.”
Brick pointed out the value in the partnership as the state addresses rural veterinary access and workforce challenges.
“Programs like AGL help position veterinarians as trusted partners on the farm, rather than just service providers, which is critical for the long-term success of both professions,” Brick said.
Veterinarians, farmers, foresters, researchers, policymakers and other agricultural professionals all have a role to play.
And through AGL, Georgia’s veterinarians now have a more prominent seat at the table.
The current AGL class includes 25 professionals representing 18 counties across the state of Georgia. The nomination and application process for the next cohort will be available beginning in early January 2027.
