Hannah McDonald

Hannah was born and raised in Franklin County, Tennessee. Hannah owes much of her passion for horses and helping others to her grandfather, Charles Garner, who found every opportunity for her to spend time around horses when she did not have her own. Hannah stayed actively involved in the Franklin County 4H Chapter as a youth through such activities as Quiz Bowl, Horse Judging, Hippology and Drill Team. In the 6th grade, she won her first horse Jazz through a 4H essay contest and was able to keep him at her grandfather’s property where she spent all of her free time. In 2012, Hannah graduated  from Franklin County High School where she was an active member in clubs such as Student Council and FFA.

 

Following high school, Hannah attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she was a Chancellor’s Honors Student, College of Agriculture Dean’s Scholar, Lady Vol Softball Player and a member of the SEC Dream Team. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2015 with a double major in Animal Science and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, she continued attending UT as a Teaching and Research Assistant for the Department of Animal Science.

 

In 2017, Hannah moved back to Franklin County, TN and began working under local veterinarians and training horses while applying for Medical School. During this time, she took in 3 horses from a local abandonment case and rehabilitated them and found them homes. After several more cases and some soul searching, she decided to start her own nonprofit in November of 2017 to continue her rehabilitation program which she named Bits and Peaces.