Meet the Locals: Discover Life in Beatrice & Gage County, Nebraska

At the age of 5, Jennafer Glaesemann already knew what she wanted to do with her life. There was no question about it – she was going to be a veterinarian.

Growing up on a dairy farm, she often helped her father with late night check-ups on the mama cows, some of which suffered from a condition called milk fever. These cows had very low calcium levels, and needed to be given the mineral intravenously. Though she only held the flashlight, and watched her father perform the procedure, Jennafer recalls being taken with the notion of helping these animals.

“I was hooked with seeing that first geyser of blood from the needle,” she said. “Milk fever is one of few diseases where a relatively simple treatment can have a dramatic impact. Before treatment, these cows are down and often unable to get up; in some cases, it can be fatal.  Often, they are able to stand up after only a bottle or two of calcium – it was like watching real superhero powers in action.”

Jennafer’s passion for animals has grown over the years. Not only did she become a veterinarian, she now owns two clinics, Blue Valley Veterinary Clinic, in Beatrice, Nebraska, which she purchased in 2012, and Pickrell Veterinary Clinic, in Pickrell, Nebraska, which she purchased in 2013 with the help of a loan obtained through the Center for Rural Affairs’ Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP).

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