Nurturing Future Veterinarians! Special 'Future Veterinarian Experience' Program with Cows and Horses Added to Soo City's Hometown Tax Returns

LR Inc. (Headquarters: Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture; Representative: Yuma Suenaga), which supports the hometown tax donation program in Soo City, Kagoshima Prefecture, has registered a special experiential program where participants can interact with cows and horses as a hometown tax return gift. The program takes place at the 'South Kyushu Livestock and Veterinary Hub (SKLV)', jointly operated by the city and Kagoshima University.

This return gift is the 'Future Veterinarian Experience' program, offering a realistic learning opportunity about the value of life and the frontline of livestock and veterinary medicine through lectures, practical training, and horseback riding—experiences usually reserved only for veterinary students. Applications will begin on Monday, June 1, 2026.

■ What is the South Kyushu Livestock and Veterinary Hub (SKLV)?

Utilizing the closed Takarabe High School, it is a livestock and veterinary education hub that began operations in 2024.

As the only veterinary base in southern Kyushu nationwide, it was established to train human resources who will support the future of the livestock industry and veterinary medicine, and to create an engaged local population.

The facility features a 'next-generation closed cowshed' equipped with temperature and humidity sensors, breeding about 350 black wagyu cattle consistently from reproduction to fattening. It also has stables aimed at creating second careers for retired racehorses, where horse therapy initiatives are conducted.

Except in winter, when avian influenza is a concern, the poultry houses keep about 5,000 chickens. Growth data is digitized and utilized in research and education.

In addition to conducting clinical practicums where veterinary students nationwide can learn by actually handling livestock such as cattle and chickens, it also holds skill-up seminars for farmers and practicing veterinarians.

This registration as a return gift is the first attempt aimed at passing on veterinary learning to the younger generation through the hometown tax program.

■ 'Future Veterinarian Experience' Special Program Content

From classroom lectures to practical training, five unique programs are prepared:

- Orientation (Safety briefing, facility introduction)
- Mini Veterinary Lecture (Learning the basics of animal medicine and livestock)
- Practical Training using Cows and Horses
- Horse Care Experience
- Horseback Riding Experience

■ Return Gift Overview

- [Target Age] Elementary to High School students
- [Schedule] Adjusted to your preferred date after donation
- [Capacity] 1 to 5 people per group (1 target person per donation; family members like parents and siblings can accompany, but experiences have limits)
- [Donation Amount] 30,000 JPY
- [Application Start Date] Monday, June 1, 2026
- [Application Sites] Rakuten Furusato Nozei, Furusato Choice, etc. (published sequentially after June 1)
- [Instructors] Kagoshima University lecturers, SKLV specialized instructors (staff involved in veterinary education)
- [Note] Content may change slightly due to weather or other conditions

■ About Soo City

Soo City aims to be a 'vibrant city created by everyone shining with smiles amidst rich nature,' promoting a livable town through the united efforts of citizens and the administration. The city sincerely welcomes support from all over the country.
Soo City has established the 'Soo City Compassion Hometown Donation' as an initiative for the hometown tax system. The city greatly appreciates participation in its town development through donations driven by sentiments like 'I want to support my beloved hometown' or 'Although I am not from Soo City, I want to support it.'