Stauffer to head state fair vet team for 38th year
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Dr. Lawrence Stauffer

A 37-year Indiana State Fair tradition will continue next week when Delphi veterinarian Dr. Lawrence Stauffer heads to Indianapolis to treat sick and injured animals during fair time. For the 15th year he will take the lead to coordinate the other large animal veterinarians who will provide medical services to fair animals.

Stauffer said that 18 large animal veterinarians will work during the 16-day fair event. Stauffer will work between eight and 10 of those days alongside other providers. The group will oversee and assist with drug testing on the 4-H show animals.

Stauffer explained that large animals are those about the size of a miniature horse or donkey. However, the team of vets will treat hogs, sheep, goats, llamas and "an occasional rabbit or chicken." An equine specialty practice from Westfield works with the vet group for the treatment of horses.

"I even treated a giraffe one year," he said. "We sew up anything that gets hurt."

Working out of the veterinary office near the cattle barn on the fairgrounds, Stauffer and the other vets use cell phones and golf carts to help them get to where they are needed as quickly as possible.

"If the weather stays this hot, there will be a lot of sick hogs," Stauffer predicted. "If it gets sick or hurt, we take care of it."

Stauffer said there are fewer and fewer large animal practitioners in the state, which can make scheduling and coordinating more challenging. Through it all, he said he enjoys the experience and he has had a good time over the years.

"I've met a lot of great people from all over the country," he concluded. "I've had a good time at this."

The Indiana State Fair runs from Aug. 8 through 19. The vet service is available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day and veterinarians are on-call the rest of the time.