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LOVE OF ANIMALS BRINGS TAIWAN

NATIVE TO TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE

KINGSVILLE (Sept. 2, 1998) -- He has loved horses since he was a youngster in his native country of Taiwan. Horses have brought joy to his life, but they have also brought heartache. Yung Liang Hei, 32, said his first experience on a horse was the turning point in his life. "It was what made me decide I wanted to work with animals."

Hei is now a magna cum laude graduate of Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a bachelor of agriculture degree in animal science, a distinguished student award, a job working for a large swine operation in North Carolina and his own King Ranch-bred horse.

Because of a lack of big open spaces in Taiwan, only the very wealthy own horses in Hei's country. "Only the rich can afford the expensive land so they are the only ones with horses. I have always dreamed of owning my own horse."

Hei came to the United States eight years ago after finishing school and serving his mandatory three years in the military. "Three years ago I transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville from San Antonio College. I like Kingsville because I like small towns," he said.

"When I first got to Kingsville, I volunteered at the university farm just so I could take care of the animals, especially the horses," he said. "Then some friends helped me arrange to buy a part quarter horse from the King Ranch. Annikar was a yearling when I got her. Now she is two and a half. I have a place to keep her in North Carolina when I go for my job."

"Because Annikar was so young when I got her, I had to break her myself," Hei said. "I expected to be bucked off and I was, but it was something I wanted to feel. I had to."

"He didn't just get bucked off. He was kicked, bitten and pushed around, but he loved it," said Dr. Terry Peek, former manager of the university farm. "Yung has such a natural love for animals. He helps out wherever he can. He volunteers weekends at the farm taking care of animals. He helped farrow the sows and took care of a mare and her colt."

Peek said the mare and her colt brought sadness to Hei. "We had bred this mare at the farm. She was a descendent of Mr. San Peppy from the King Ranch. I put Yung in charge of the mare. He started talking to the colt while still in the womb . . . in Chinese.

"When the mare was ready to foal, there was Yung with his video camera filming the birth. The colt knew Yung as well as he knew his own mother. One day, I found Yung sitting on the floor in the stall with the colt in his lap.

"Unfortunately, the colt broke his leg and had to be put down. The mare became ill and died. That was a sad time for Yung. He had to leave the barn for awhile."

Peek said Hei's good heart brought him many friends in the student rodeo club. "They convinced him to try calf roping, but only once."

"I tried to rope a calf," Hei said. "My rope got tangled up and the calf went behind me. My horse got scared and bucked me off.

"I don't think I'll try that again," he said with a laugh.

Hei said he could have studied animal science in Taiwan, but there aren't many jobs in the field so he would have probably had to leave the country to find a job. "There are a few small animal operations in Taiwan, but nothing like in the United States."

After he works at his new job for a few years, Hei said he wants to go back to school to study for a master's degree. "I want to study reproduction physiology," he said.

Hei's new employer, Brown's of Carolina, will train him to take over a supervisory position and is encouraging him to continue his education. "I will go back to school, but first I want to be independent for awhile. My family has been helping me. I want to do this myself."

Hei's father has retired from his job with the agriculture department in Taiwan, where his mother still works.

At last visit with Hei, he was looking for a one-horse trailer to move Annikar and himself to North Carolina. Along with his belongings, he will take with him the happy and sad memories of his years at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

-TAMUK-