Victoria “Dixie” Crowe’s non-traditional academic journey to Colorado State University came after a variety of careers from freelance illustration, non-profit fundraising, and pharmacy technology leading her here to study equine science and journalism. All the while, she has accumulated both technical knowledge and life experiences that have helped her become a well-rounded, award-winning student.
Crowe, who will graduate in May 2016 with a double major in equine science and journalism and media communication, has combined her passion for horses, science, and writing to help horse owners understand the technical aspects of equine disease, genetics and reproduction.
Amazing advances in equine science
“I’ve been learning all kinds of amazing equine science at CSU,” said Crowe. “I want to help horse owners get excited about science, too and understand all the breakthroughs that are happening, especially in fields like reproduction and genomics.”
Crowe has been working for Dr. Patrick McCue, from CSU’s Equine Reproduction Laboratory, editing videos and building an interactive iBook that will be available on iTunes this summer. The goal of this iBook is to provide students, practicing veterinarians and horse owners with an assortment of real clinical cases that outline diagnostic techniques and therapeutic protocols. Volume one, the first in a series of planned books, includes videos, photos, tables, as well as the ability to highlight passages, tables, and a list of scholarly references.
Invaluable skills
“Dixie has a diverse repertoire of professional skills that has made her invaluable in our pursuit of publishing a series of iBooks,” said McCue. “These skills combined with her background and enthusiasm regarding livestock and horses will serve her well in whatever direction her career goes …. if I don’t hire her permanently.”
Although the book has been her main focus outside of classes for the last nine months, this isn’t Crowe’s only project. Since the fall of 2013, she’s written a weekly blog for the Collegian.com. Her nearly 40 blogs included editorials, news pieces, and video tours about classes and events in animal and equine science. She also worked as a freelance writer. Her coverage and photographs of the Kesa Quarter Horse Production Sale was published in The Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse magazine in November.
“I like writing articles, but I also like the production work involved in creating multi-media pieces,” said Crowe. “There are many ways to present complex information including photographs, infographics, videos, and interactive publications that add to the writing, and help people really understand key concepts.”
Award-winning work
Crowe’s writing recently garnered her two American Horse Publication Student Awards. She was a one of three finalists who won a travel award to attend the annual seminar and also the 2015 the Student Award Winner. Previous winners have gone on to successful equine publishing careers. In addition to the scholarship, Crowe also received an all-expenses-paid trip to Kentucky from Publisher’s Press to attend their seminar and visit Churchill Downs, Keeneland Racetrack and Kentucky Horse Park.
While Crowe doesn’t know what is in store for her after graduation, her writing and studies will keep her busy during her final year. She knows her experiences at CSU and the awards she has received will launch her career in the equine industry.
