Farmer-vet Hugh Thomson reflects on his journey from his family farm to vet school, and the opportunities within rural practice. I grew up on a mixed farm in Morayshire, land my family has farmed since 1853. Farming was never just an occupation in our household; it was a way of life. I always admired the role the local vet played in supporting livestock farmers. Like many farm kids, I probably had a bit of hero worship for the person who could arrive and perform a C-section on a cow in time of need. The thought that one day I might be able to do that myself became a powerful motivation; but it became so much more than that! So I turned my thoughts to becoming a vet. I felt the farm would still be there while everyone in the family was fit and healthy, and I already had a good understanding of how it operated. But being a vet, I could bring something more to the farm. I saw I could bring skills and a profession that could benefit our own livestock enterprise, and have the chance to learn from different farms and broaden my perspective as both a vet and a farmer. The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies had always felt like the place to train, and achieving a place there was part of the dream. The University of Edinburgh felt like a big step, but close enough to home to be manageable as I left the farm for the first time. The combination of a great veterinary reputation and the experience of living in Edinburgh made it the obvious choice when I received my offer. Vet school was demanding, but incredibly rewarding. Long hours studying were balanced by strong friendships and the social side of university life. Those shared experiences create lasting bonds, and many of my closest friends came through the Dick Vet with me. Although I knew farm work was where my interests lay, vet school exposed us to a range of disciplines. I pushed myself to gain experience outside my comfort zone but those experiences only confirmed that my real passion was farm practice. After graduating, I took up my first farm-only job in Hampshire and Dorset. I deliberately chose to move away from home to earn my stripes and gain wider experience. Over the years, my career has taken me through large farm practices, leadership roles and advisory work within the industry. What has remained constant is the satisfaction of rural farm veterinary practice. A farm vet is rarely just a clinician; you become a trusted adviser, working closely with farmers to improve herd health and productivity. My own farming background has helped me to understand the pressures and realities that clients face. Today I combine veterinary work with running my own farming business, and the two complement each other well. Being a vet allows you to visit other farms, exchange ideas and learn from different systems. For anyone from a farming background considering veterinary medicine, rural practice offers far more career options that many people might initially think. While many vets start out working directly with livestock farmers in clinical practice, there are also opportunities in herd health planning, advisory and nutrition roles, teaching, research and wider industry positions. With a real demand for farm vets in rural areas, it is a career that can evolve over time, allowing you to keep learning while still staying closely connected to the farming industry.Undergraduate veterinary study at the School This article was published on 2026-05-08
