June 10, 2025
A $5 million gift commitment from Scott and Angie State is launching a transformational expansion of the Large Animal Hospital at the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, enhancing care for equine patients and advancing clinical services that matter to clients across the region.
“A growing equine industry in Iowa has led to the need for an equine facilities expansion that will elevate the college’s capabilities to provide services to clients, educate the next generation of veterinarians and conduct cutting-edge clinical research,” said Dr. Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “We are deeply grateful for Scott and Angie’s support of our vision for the Large Animal Hospital expansion.”
Scott and Angie State reside in Scottsdale, Arizona. Scott earned both his bachelor’s (’86) and master’s (’87) degrees in nuclear engineering from Iowa State, while Angie received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and design in 1987, also from Iowa State. Angie’s father, Dr. Raymond Cooney, graduated from Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1946. He owned and operated a veterinary practice in Manchester, Iowa.
Scott and his brother, Jeff, are co-owners of RDS Legacy Racing, a leading Quarter Horse racing operation headquartered at their Running Oaks Ranch in Manchester. Named in honor of their father, Randall Dean State, and his lifelong passion for racehorses, RDS Legacy Racing continues the family’s deep-rooted connection to animal care and the equine industry, a connection the Large Animal Hospital expansion is building on.
“Supporting the College of Veterinary Medicine’s vision for advancing equine care, education and research means a great deal to us,” said Scott and Angie State. “Iowa State had a profound impact on our lives and our family’s history with veterinary medicine. Through this project, we hope to help future generations of veterinarians and strengthen services that are so vital to the equine industry we care deeply about.”
The 19,583-square-foot expansion involves the construction of several key areas that will dramatically extend the hospital’s services and capabilities to support equine clients. These include:
Increased intensive care areas
The project will increase the number of equine intensive care stalls to accommodate critically ill patients, including mares and foals. The specifically designed stalls will allow for more effective management of pregnant mares with high-risk pregnancies and mare and foal pairs where either (or both) require intensive care.
Additional space for equine reproductive services
The addition of stalls and a new stallion collection area specifically designed to facilitate semen collection and mare breeding management services will enhance productivity and safety.
Growing equine rehabilitation services
The demand for specialty equine rehabilitation services is on the rise, and offering these services will require additional stall space to allow for the longer-term care required for the rehabilitation of patients. The increased space will house new advanced care equipment, such as an underwater treadmill.
Additional laboratory space for advanced reproductive technologies
With the expansion, the Large Animal Hospital will be able to offer the most advanced reproduction techniques, including in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer to equine, food animal and other clientele. The increased capacity will offer substantial opportunities to engage students, interns and residents as well as increasing outreach training programs for private practitioners.
The $14.1 million expansion has been approved by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. Construction is scheduled to begin in the next few months with anticipated completion by 2027.
The States made their charitable gift to support the project through the Iowa State University Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization committed to securing and managing gifts that benefit Iowa State University.
“Scott and Angie’s gift commitment serves as a powerful catalyst for this project, inspiring additional support to fully realize the vision for expanded equine services,” Grooms said. “The college and the ISU Foundation are actively engaging additional partners who share their passion for advancing care and improving outcomes for horses and their owners.”
Contacts
David Gieseke, manager of communications, College of Veterinary Medicine, 515.520.9512, dgieseke@iastate.edu,
Elaine Watkins-Miller, director of communications/public relations, Iowa State University Foundation, 515.294.1005, ewmiller@foundation.iastate.edu