For a place as rural as Southwest Mississippi, agriculture — particularly that associated with livestock — isn’t as big of an enterprise as it once was not that long ago, which is a concern, according to Dr. Kim Klunk, the area’s newest large-animal veterinarian.
Klunk grew up caring for animals as a member of the local 4-H livestock club and the daughter of a veterinarian, and she intends to make a lifelong career out of it.
The Parklane Academy graduate from Magnolia went to Millsaps College, where she played basketball and received her bachelor’s degree before going to veterinary school at Mississippi State University.
“I did a large-animal rotating internship,” she told the McComb Exchange Club on Thursday, adding that most of her patients were of the hooved variety — cows, goats, pigs and horses.
She returned home last summer and went to work with her mother, Dr. Rachel Bateman, who runs Camellia City Animal Hospital after buying the practice from Dr. Phil Murray.
“I’ve enjoyed being back home,” said Klunk, who also is the daughter of Fred Klunk.
Klunk noted that there’s not as many farmers dependent on livestock as there used to be. Dairies are nearly extinct in the corner of the state that used to boast more of them than anywhere else.
“Learning agriculture is such a big part of our society today. Where does your food come from?” she said.
Klunk said her membership in 4-H was a major influence on her career path.
“Within the community, growing up, I also did 4-H, showing cattle,” she said. “I really feel like that was a big part of my upbringing. I’ve always been around animals.
But even that has fallen.
“It’s kind of one of the programs that’s gone by the wayside over the years,” Klunk said, adding that she hopes to play a role in reviving the program.
The Pike County Extension Service runs the 4-H program. Extension agents Don Smith and Brent Breland are trying to bring the program back.
“We have a really good extension agent right now,” Klunk said.
She said the club could help bring up the next generation of farmers and veterinarians.
“I think 4-H is a way for them to get that experience and learn that responsibility,” Klunk said.
She noted that the late James Moak, who recently died, was an ardent supporter of the livestock club and raised livestock for club members to care for and show at livestock shows. She hopes someone will fill his shoes.
“There are a lot of producers who might be willing to donate a cow,” she said.
While Pike County no longer has a livestock sale barn, Klunk noted that Tylertown has one of the biggest ones in Mississippi, and another is in nearby Brookhaven.
Klunk said her large-animal practice is a mobile operation and she’s trying to acquire equipment such as portable ultrasounds and X-rays.
“I have a truck that I work out of to go to farms,” she said.
Working with farm animals can lead to erratic work hours.
“Last weekend I had someone having trouble with a cow having a calf,” Klunk said. “I went out on Sunday and had a look. The cows had been having trouble having it for a while so I ended up having to do a C-section.”
That type of work could get busier with the birthing season approaching on farms, Klunk said.
Most of her practice includes general health maintenance for farm animals, along with providing vaccines and papers to qualify animals for shows.
“Starting out it’s kind of been a mix,” she said. “We’ve seen a good bit of cattle and a few horses here and there. Herd work, disease prevention is the majority of the cattle businesses.”
As for pigs, Klunk said most of that clientele is of the potbellied, pet variety.
“Everybody wants the potbelly pigs right now,” she said, cautioning that cute little piglets will one day grow up to be full-grown swine.
