Press Release

Innovative Veterinarian Dr. Ann Wells Joins Kerr Center

Ann Wells

Jim Horne, president and chief executive officer at the Kerr Center, announced September 1 that Ann Wells, DVM, has joined the center as program director.
Dr. Wells will be directing the center’s programming towards the goal of making the Kerr Center Farm and Ranch south of Poteau into a center for innovative research and education.

“The Kerr Center has always been on the cutting edge of sustainable agriculture,” said Horne. “Dr. Wells will help us help us respond even better to the needs of farmers and ranchers.”
Those needs include effective strategies to protect natural resources as well as make farm enterprises profitable. Equipping beginning farmers with the tools they need to be successful is another, he added.

“Kerr Center has such a great history and reputation,” said Wells. “I'm excited about being a part of its future.”

As a nonprofit educational foundation, the center sponsors educational events and offers extensive resources and information to farmers, ranchers and rural communities.
Wells has more than 25 years experience in veterinary medicine, livestock production, research, education and business.

On her own farm she has produced and sold natural lamb and, since 2001, grass-finished beef. She has worked closely throughout her career with others involved in grass-finished and organic livestock production.

This experience gives her a wealth of practical knowledge to pass on to producers.
Wells also has extensive research experience. For the last six years, she has been working with Heifer International at Heifer Ranch near Perry, Arkansas, researching parasite management strategies to reduce the need for anthelmintics (dewormers).

Her educational outreach includes nine years with the national sustainable agriculture information service ATTRA in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

For the last several years, Wells has worked closely with limited resource producers in Oklahoma. That work includes mentoring and training on management-intensive grazing systems and helping producers develop livestock wellness programs.
She has also received several grants from the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development program to develop educational resources for dairy farmers, producers of grassfed beef, and NRCS and other agriculture professionals.

Dr. Wells often teaches workshops around the region, including a Kerr Center-sponsored goat workshop at Connors State College in 2008.

She received her DVM from Oklahoma State University in 1980.

Operating a sheep and goat veterinary practice first sparked her interest in complementary veterinary medicine. Her philosophy is to focus on the health of the animal through controlled grazing management and stress reduction techniques and strategies.

Dr. Wells will work closely with Kerr Center staff specialists to build on programs already in place. She will also work on development of new educational resources.

Kerr Center on-ranch programs include livestock (cattle and goats), horticulture/organics and conservation/stewardship. The center also offers internships to college students.

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