This year’s Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week Award has been presented to the Walkerton Hanover Veterinary Clinic’s Dr. Heather Reinhardt.
The award, in conjunction with the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College recognizes new veterinarians entering food animal practices serving producers in Grey Bruce, and includes a $1,000 prize.
A release from Farmers’ week says Reinhardt grew up on a small dairy farm in Teeswater that has been in her family for four generations. Having enjoyed farm work and caring for animals since she was a young child, by the time she was a teenager, she joined the local 4-H club and even purchased a few sheep and started her own small flock.
During her undergraduate degree Reinhardt gained experience working in the swine industry managing a sow barn, and worked for swine speciality clinic Southwest Vets. Before veterinary school, she earned a Master of Science Degree in livestock nutrition.
The Farmers’ Week committee says Reinhardt always wanted to be a veterinarian and her a career as one will allow her to blend her passion for caring for animals with her desire to be involved in agriculture and production medicine.
Reinhardt is currently employed at the Walkerton Hanover Veterinary Clinic, and the Walkerton Equine Clinic where she will be performing a diverse set of roles and services within the clinics.
The committee says it may be too early to ask Heather what her specialty will be, but she is hopeful that her training in livestock nutrition will be a unique asset to the clinics, in addition to her passion for production management.
The award was presented virtually on June 12th as part of the OVC Class of 2021 Virtual Veterinary Oath Ceremony.
