Dr. Clint Shireman of Shireman Veterinary Services is a dedicated professional committed to food animal medicine.
With experience in both hands-on care and community education, he plays a vital role in supporting animals.
Shireman's veterinary journey began at a young age, growing up in the livestock and agriculture field.
"I grew up on a small farm with pigs, cattle, and sheep," said Shireman. "From a young age, all I knew was care for animals. I was 10 years old when I became a 4-H member, and we traveled a lot, exploring pigs, cattle, and sheep at a high level.
Instead of focusing on common extracurricular activities such as sports, Shierman and his family devoted their lives to livestock and other agricultural activities.
"Showing livestock became a sport and a hobby for our family,” said Shireman. “I compare our family to an AAU basketball team—except we were hauling around livestock. When I got to Purdue University, I was in the Block and Bridle Club and a member of an agricultural fraternity called Alpha Gamma Rho. I was on Purdue's livestock judging team and studied animal science with a focus on pre-veterinary medicine.”
Shireman engaged in numerous activities while also focusing on his education to become a veterinarian.
"After earning my degree, I continued my education at Purdue's vet school," said Shireman. "I focused on farm and food animal medicine, which is what I practice now—pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats. I was also a member of the Purdue cheerleading team and a scholarship athlete, which helped cover some of my vet school expenses."
These experiences have all contributed to his current profession. Shireman is involved in several committees where he assists with veterinary work and related activities. He is on the Supreme Showmanship Committee in La Porte County and serves as the veterinarian for the Indiana Stock Show in Cloverdale.
"Being involved in boards and committees such as the Beef and Swine Committee, the Showmanship Committee, the Fair Board, and serving as a veterinarian aligns with my goal of helping kids with food animal and veterinary medicine,” said Shireman. “I love teaching kids to be good stewards of livestock and extending their education and experience. I always say that kids are the future of this industry, particularly in the livestock sector of agriculture."
Shireman and his team must emphasize the importance of education in this field, or it may not be advocated for in the future.
"As far as good experiences go for me as a vet, I love going to the fair and traveling all over the Midwest,” said Shireman. “I enjoy hearing success stories, whether it's performing a specific surgery or a life-changing event for an animal. Watching those kids and their animals succeed in the showroom is incredibly rewarding.”
He is passionate about teaching kids and showing them the right ways to handle situations in the field.
"When it comes to teaching kids, I always emphasize getting hands-on,” said Shireman. “If it's your first day with me, be prepared to get dirty because I will have you do some of the work. Getting them involved and helping them feel like they're accomplishing tasks is truly satisfying.”
Shireman mixes his outside life with his profession as they correlate with each other.
"This is more of a lifestyle than just a career choice,” said Shireman. “When I'm not a veterinarian, I judge quite a few showmanship contests where kids present their animals. Other than that, I enjoy hanging out with my wife and kids. Our practice is just me, my wife (who is also a vet), and my parents who help out where they can. My wife is my vet tech, so we work together nearly every day."
At just 35, Shierman has achieved many accomplishments, with several standing out to him.
"I worked on some very high-caliber show cattle and with some great ranchers and cowboys,” said Shireman. “That experience was a significant accomplishment for me and shaped my career and how I focused my practice. Graduating with a degree in veterinary medicine and starting our own practice with my wife were major milestones and of course, starting our family."
Shireman has goals for the future of his veterinary services and aims to remain active in the community.
"I plan on staying active in the community, especially with all the committees I'm on,” he said. ”I enjoy working with kids and giving them a different outlook on animal agriculture. We hope to build a larger practice. Right now, our practice provides mobile services, which requires me to be on the road quite a bit. In the future, we plan to expand to an in-house facility that will work with cattle, sheep, hogs, and goats."
For more information visit shiremanvetservices.com.