Nov. 2, 2026
Photo courtesy of Sammi McNealy
When mules Boone and George made their public debut at the 2024 University of Missouri Homecoming Parade, Sammi McNealy wasn’t watching from the sidelines. She was right there with them, helping guide the beloved ambassadors through one of Mizzou’s most cherished traditions.
Just a few years earlier, she never would have pictured herself in that role.
“I used to not talk to anyone,” McNealy said. “I would go to class, keep my head down and leave. Vet school taught me to stop worrying about what people thought of me and be myself.”
For McNealy, now a third-year student in the Mizzou College of Veterinary Medicine, the parade represented more than months of preparing Boone and George. It reflected her own journey from a quiet student to someone comfortable leading, connecting with others and representing Mizzou.
Originally from the small town of Jonesburg, Missouri, McNealy grew up around her family’s Brangus cattle herd. While earning her undergraduate degree at Mizzou, she worked at the university’s Foremost Dairy, where she discovered a love for veterinary medicine.
“Working with the veterinarians, animals and people at Foremost really solidified my decision to go to veterinary school,” she said. “I saw firsthand how much passion goes into an industry that a lot of people just don’t realize.”
The experience also introduced her to many faculty members who would later become her instructors in veterinary school.
“I knew the education I was going to get at the Mizzou CVM wasn’t something I could get anywhere else,” McNealy said. “The faculty are very hands-on with students, they genuinely care about us, and I wanted to continue learning from them.”
A new sense of confidence
Veterinary school challenged McNealy in more ways than one. Along with developing clinical knowledge and hands-on skills, she found opportunities to grow as a leader.
She became vice president of the dairy section of the Bovine Club and joined the Mule Club, where caring for the university’s beloved ambassadors quickly became a highlight of her veterinary school experience.
“I was drawn to the Mule Club because we were out working with the animals, meeting people and representing Mizzou,” she said.
Preparing to serve Missouri’s rural communities
As she continues exploring different areas of veterinary medicine, McNealy said Mizzou has encouraged her to discover where she fits best.
“The college really supports you in figuring out who you want to become as a veterinarian,” she said. “You discover what you’re good at, what you enjoy and even what you don’t enjoy.”
After she graduates in 2028, McNealy hopes to help address the increasing demands for rural large animal veterinarians by providing care to producers and building lasting relationships with farming communities. She also hopes to one day own a practice that combines a traditional clinic with ambulatory services, bringing veterinary care directly to the farms that need it most.
“I want to invest in the farms I work with,” she said, “help identify problems and find solutions that make a difference.”
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