Bentley Payne aims to be a veterinarian who is a leader in serving her rural community.
Ever since Payne can remember, she has always had her heart set to help people and their animals. This passion stemmed from her parents.
“My dad raised cattle, while my mom grew up showing quarter horses and participating in rodeos,” Payne said. “This background instilled in me an immediate love for animals. We had cows, horses, dogs, pigs, goats and other animals that wandered onto our farm.”
Payne was born and raised in Caddo Mills, Texas. While growing up in this rural community, she knew early on that becoming a veterinarian was in her future.
“I understood how challenging it was for anyone in rural areas to find a mixed animal practice veterinarian, especially one willing to make emergency farm calls,” Payne said. “I began showing horses at a young age and quickly realized how much the community needed mixed animal vets.”
Payne saw the need and decided to do something about it. She is now in her third year at Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.
Let’s get to know Payne through a series of questions.
What are you passionate about in veterinary medicine?
My passion in this profession lies in shelter medicine because I have a deep affection for shelter animals. I also aspire to practice in a rural community. Growing up in a small town, my parents and school emphasized the value of servant leadership. I want to give back to my community by providing quality veterinary care to help them with their animals.
Additionally, I have a long-held dream of traveling to Africa to practice veterinary medicine for a short time and assist villages with their animals. I had the incredible opportunity to visit South Africa last summer and I absolutely loved it. Now, my goal is to return there someday soon.
What are some life experiences that led you to that passion?
Growing up in a small town, I had many friends and relatives with pets, but they often lacked easy access to animal care. This background has fueled my passion for serving rural communities. Many jobs in small towns do not offer the higher salaries found in larger cities, and these smaller communities also require affordable pet care.
Another life experience that helped solidify my passion was during my undergraduate studies at Auburn University. It was there that I participated in the Pups on the Plains dog fostering program on campus. It was through this experience my love for shelter animals developed.
What inspires you to pursue what you love to do every day?
This is the easiest question for me. My Mimi, who was my mom's mother, played a significant role in my life. We spent countless hours together until we lost her to cancer when I was 14.
She was incredibly talented and taught all her daughters how to ride horses. Her creative imagination was beyond description. I never heard her say a negative word about any of my hopes and dreams and she always believed I could achieve anything I set my mind to.
Mimi raised four strong daughters and wanted me to be strong as well. I watched her bravely battle her illness while still putting everyone else first. Her Christian faith inspires me every day because she truly believed that nothing could stand in the way of the power of prayer.
She loved everyone equally, regardless of their background or life choices. I never witnessed her passing judgment on anyone, and she embraced them with love.
I know with each obstacle I face, I draw strength from her to overcome it. She wanted me to realize all my dreams, and I fully intend to make them happen.
How do you plan to go back and help your community?
After graduation, I plan to work in a mixed animal practice with the goal of eventually owning my own clinic. I have a special interest in equine theriogenology, mixed animal surgery and shelter medicine. I am passionate about giving back to local shelters by organizing monthly low-cost spay and neuter clinics to help reduce the number of homeless dogs.
Why did you choose Texas Tech?
When it came time to apply to veterinary school, I submitted applications to nine
different institutions. I received acceptances from several of them, but after spending
four years at Auburn University, which is 12 hours away from home, I was eager to
return to Texas. My mom encouraged me to apply to Texas Tech, and I am so glad I did.
Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine developed a program to serve rural communities, which aligned perfectly with my goals. The professors have been incredibly supportive and I appreciate that they take the time to get to know their students. Also, the animal adoption program at the school has also helped me move closer to one of my objectives.
I enjoy the sense of community here and the school is still small enough that I can know everyone. One of the best aspects of Texas Tech is how warmly they welcomed me and my Great Dane seizure detection dog, Rodney Joe.
What was your reaction when you got the call that you were accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine?
I got a call from Dean Guy Loneragan while eating sushi on Valentine's Day with one of my best friends' moms. I was so excited. He kept in touch with me until the decision day to make sure I wasn't going to stray back to Alabama.
How are you involved with the school?
Throughout my education, from grade school to my undergraduate years at Auburn, I
have always been actively involved in various projects and that hasn't changed at
Texas Tech. One of the aspects I love about Texas Tech is the abundance of opportunities
for involvement.
Each semester the Amarillo Shelter brings several dogs to our school for students to practice their skills and to interact with them. In doing this, we help put on an annual dog adoption event at our school. As a student who is deeply passionate about shelter animals, I help coordinate this event.
Planning this event, which includes managing social media, securing silent auction donations, coordinating food trucks and booking bands has become the highlight of my time here. It is incredibly rewarding to see the school’s dogs find their forever homes.
Additionally, I am fortunate to have been selected as the Purina Student Representative, which keeps me engaged with lunch-and-learn sessions and events throughout the year. I am also involved in the Food Animal Club, the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Veterinary Business Management Association.
What are your favorite things to do outside of school?
Outside of school, I love my time doing what I refer to as horse therapy. There is nothing better for the mind than time with a horse. When I go home, I ride, and I'm fortunate to have friends in Amarillo who let me ride their horses.
I also play piano, enjoy country dancing and love hiking with Rodney. I can never seem to mark enough things off my travel bucket list.
Additionally, I have found a church home in Amarillo. Over the past two years, I spent a lot of time on road trips to watch my brother play college football in Missouri.