Becky Schilling

Veterinary medicine was not on the forefront of John Ensign's mind until playing softball with a vet in college, which led to volunteering at his clinic. "The first day down there that was it," he says. "I fell in love with it." So he changed his major from marketing to veterinary medicine, thus beginning 14 years of animal practice.

Aycock has lived his entire life in Bell County, Texas, where he was born in 1946. He attended Texas A&M University, where he received his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1970 and was a captain in the U.S. Army ('70-'72). Aycock is married with two children.

More veterinarians are serving in public office than 30 years ago, experts say. So much so, a new position was created at the American Veterinary Medical Association in March 2005 to accommodate the growing trend-assistant director of state legislation and regulatory affairs, held by Adrian Hochstadt.

Cap Dierks has always had a passion for two things: veterinary medicine and politics. So after running a successful clinic for 10 years, he decided to pursue his other interest. It began with serving on the local school board for 15 years, the hospital board for nine years and one year as president of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association. He then turned to the unicameral, nonpartisan Nebraska Senate, which he served in from 1987 to 2002. Dierks plans to once again serve in the state legislature, after losing his seat to a competitor following a redistricting. "Anybody who has the propensity to serve people should serve in public office," Dierks says.