Wares establish fund to benefit Department of Animal Science students

Virginia and Doug Ware wearing black formal attire.
Doug and Virginia Ware

Doug and Virginia Ware are committed to fostering learning in the animal science field and empowering the next generation of students and future industry leaders. As a proud alum of Iowa State University, Doug (’75 MS animal science, ’76 PhD) and his wife, Virginia, are honored to support the Department of Animal Science by establishing the Douglas and Virginia Ware Excellence Fund in Animal Science and Food Animal Veterinary Medicine. 

This gift is devoted to advancing the field of animal science, fostering innovation, and supporting the dedicated students who strive for excellence in this vital field. Doug and Virginia are proud to contribute to the department’s ongoing success and provide support for student learning.

This fund will be used to support scholarships, student programming, or other student support. Priority will be focused toward assisting graduate students in animal science and students pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, primarily focused on food animal production. 

Doug’s time as a graduate student at Iowa State was transformative, both personally and professionally. The faculty were not only esteemed colleagues but also cherished friends, and their mentorship greatly influenced Doug’s career. By investing in education, the Wares are opening doors to opportunities for students that might not have the means to pursue higher education.

Iowa State provided Doug with an exceptional education and a nurturing environment that fostered his growth and success while Virginia worked as a speech pathologist at Iowa schools. It is Doug and Virginia’s sincere desire to give back to the institution that shaped Doug’s career and provided an opportunity for Virginia to begin her career. Doug was instrumental in the creation of Bovamine, which is a transformational product in the animal nutrition space. The Wares’ passion is to recognize the accomplishments of young people through general support for the next generation of students and researchers, ensuring they have access to the same high-quality education and opportunities the couple was fortunate to receive.

Growing up in Huntington, Indiana, Doug found his passion for agriculture through his father. This, as well as his athletic talent, led him to attend Purdue University on a football scholarship. After becoming a Big Ten champion and winning the Rose Bowl, Doug graduated and obtained a job in the animal health industry. He had the opportunity to work with the top veterinarians and animal nutritionists in the country, which eventually spurred him to attend Iowa State to further his education.

“Those veterinarians and nutritionists provided me with a lot of mentorship,” Doug said. “I became passionate about doing what those people did.”

Though admitted to veterinary school, financial considerations led Doug to decide to attend Iowa State on a graduate assistantship, where he stayed for five years to earn his master’s and doctorate degrees in animal science.

“Iowa State was one of the best times in our lives,” Doug said. “I was blessed to have some of the finest teachers that anyone could have hoped to have. It was an incredible experience.”  

Doug started Nutrition Physiology Company, where he innovated the animal nutrition space with microbiological products that were safe for animals and humans. He focused his research on beef and dairy cattle and reinvested back into the company research every chance he had. Now retired, Doug and Virginia enjoy giving back and doing philanthropic work.  

When asked if he had any advice for students, he responded, “Life is hard, but stay committed to what you want to do. If you do what you love, you will never have a job but rather a career that will make you happy.”  

“As a large department, we have many entrepreneurial undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in animal science, of which many are also pursuing an eventual career in food animal veterinary medicine,” said Jason Ross, chair of the Department of Animal Science. “We are so fortunate to have the ongoing support of Dr. and Mrs. Ware to the benefit of our students. Their support of students pursuing an eventual career in food animal veterinary medicine and those bringing entrepreneurship into their graduate research will foster students and their development in a very meaningful way. We are grateful to Doug and Virginia for their desire to support our students and programs in such a substantial way.”

The Wares’ gift was made through the Iowa State University Foundation. Learn more about the Department of Animal Science by visiting their website.

Contact

Michelle Hiscocks, Department of Animal Science, 515-294-5517, michhisc@iastate.edu