Club History & Overview

Dr. Larry Pennington started his veterinary science 4-H club (the First Town Veterinary Science 4-H Club) shortly after being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and having been inspired  to work with children. His goal has always been in educating the youth and sharing with them the love for animals and passion for his profession. 

The club has become the stage by which the members can shine through learning about veterinary medicine, developing public speaking skills, becoming responsible citizens and growing as young leaders.  Our club is made up of a diverse group of kids with varying backgrounds and representing many towns in Hartford County and beyond.

Members learn about veterinary science through hands-on activities, projects, field trips and community service activities in this club for children aged 7-19. They witness surgery on cats and dogs, learn about common illnesses and how to treat them, and take field trips to vet hospitals, clinics, farms, and zoos. These are some of the many activities that this club offers.  Members also complete projects such as creative arts, first aid kits and essays, vet science boards, and photography exhibits that are judged at club meetings and the Hartford County 4-H Fair.  In our recent past the club had about 20-25 members.  In the wake of Covid, our numbers have been reduced as we’ve focused on keeping the club operating for current members.  However, we are now working on returning to full strength and resuming most, if not all, of our regular activities.

Past 4-H members are now pursuing career paths in the animal science fields and as veterinarians by having taken advantage of their opportunities and grown in our organization. Educational field trips, pet therapy visits to nursing homes and competing with veterinary science projects and displays at the county fair were some of the ways that our club brought fun and purpose into their lives.

We’ve grown as a club over the years and take great pride in molding today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.