For Toby Greer, a journey that began in the small rural town of North Chatham, New York, has led to a clear sense of purpose at the University of Vermont.

This month Greer will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from UVM’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), carrying forward a passion for veterinary medicine, agriculture, and education that was shaped by hands-on learning and meaningful mentorship.

Greer transferred to UVM in Spring 2024 after earning an Associate of Science degree from SUNY Adirondack. It was during those early college years that an interest in veterinary medicine first took root. While exploring transfer options to continue on a pre-veterinary track, Greer learned about UVM’s Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM) program, an experience that would ultimately transform both career goals and personal identity.

“Enrolling in CALS as an Animal Science major was a natural choice,” Greer said. “Working with dairy cows in CREAM was a transformative experience for me. I walked into the program aspiring to be a small animal veterinarian and left realizing that my true calling is production animal medicine and contributing to agriculture. The invaluable aspect of CREAM resides in the fact that I was able to develop leadership skills that I can now bring into any setting.” 

A man giving a calf a shot

Through the program, Greer led demonstrations for youth at 4-H Bovine Bonanza events, educated prospective students and faculty during farm tours, and volunteered at Vermont’s World Dairy Expo events. These experiences revealed a strong passion for teaching and outreach, an interest that carried into other roles at UVM.

In addition to CREAM, Greer served as a teaching assistant for Animal Anatomy and was an active member of the Dairy Challenge Club. Most recently, Greer traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to compete in the National Dairy Challenge competition, applying knowledge gained at UVM’s Miller Farm to the evaluation of a 6,000-head commercial dairy. The team assessed nutrition, reproduction, feeding strategies, and financial management, gaining exposure to real-world problem-solving at a large-scale operation.

Reflecting on time at UVM, Greer emphasizes gratitude above all else. “I’m incredibly thankful to have been surrounded by such amazing peers, faculty, and farm staff,” Greer said. “They created opportunities for self-discovery that were absolutely integral to my academic success. I owe it to them.”

As graduation approaches, Greer carries forward not only technical expertise, but a lasting appreciation for the relationships that shaped the UVM experience, connections that will continue well beyond Commencement.

A man looking at a cow

Greer’s advice to incoming and prospective students is simple, “Relationships drive success. Work hard, go to class, be personable and kind, and opportunities will fall into your lap without you having to chase them.”

For Toby Greer, UVM has been more than a university. It has been a place of transformation, discovery, and lifelong inspiration.