Jeff grew up on a small farm near Madelia, Minnesota, where his family raised corn, soybeans, hogs, calves and sheep. He was active in 4-H and FFA and credits his FFA adviser with helping him find his career as a veterinarian. His adviser, Brad Schloesser, today is Dean of Southern Minnesota Center of Agriculture.
In 1989, Jeff entered the University of Minnesota and earned his BS degree in veterinary science and, in 1997, his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. While in veterinary school, he worked at the university’s swine teaching facility, completed an internship at the Swine Vet Center (SVC),and worked at PigCHAMP. These experiences helped him make the decision to focus on swine.
After graduation, he joined the SVC team of veterinarians and has become a specialist in air filtration. In 2006, his client installed the first filtration system on a sow unit in the US. Today, Jeff leads SVC’s filtration audits, designs and biosecurity protocols for the purpose of reducing outbreaks of disease such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.
Jeff is not the only veterinarian in his family. He met his wife Mari in veterinary school, and today, she is part of a mixed animal practice in St. Peter, Minnesota, where the couple lives. They have two children: a son Lane, who is a senior in high school, and a daughter Lauren, who is a junior in high school. Much of Jeff’s free time is spent attending school sporting events. He also is involved in Trinity Lutheran Church. And just like a true Minnesotan, he also enjoys fishing and hunting.
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