BRODHEAD — For 75 years, the Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center has had the privilege of caring for animals and for the people who love them. Since 1951, the independently owned practice has grown, evolved, and adapted alongside advances in veterinary medicine. Through every change, one thing has remained constant: its commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care and building lasting relationships with the families, farms, and communities we serve.
What began as a veterinary clinic in a garage has grown into the practice employees are proud to call home today. The Brodhead location has served the community at its current site since 1997, and in October 2021, they expanded the veterinary family through the purchase of Monroe Veterinary Service. Today, the Brodhead and Monroe clinics are two locations united as one team.
“Together, we provide comprehensive veterinary care for family pets, livestock, and the animals that are so important to the lives and livelihoods of our clients throughout the surrounding communities,” said Kari Grossen, Practice Manager.
Growing with the community
Over the past 75 years, the practice has grown not only in size, but also in the services and support they are able to offer patients and clients. Today, the team includes 16 veterinarians and 54 employees across both Brodhead and Monroe locations.
“We are grateful for the people who make up our team. Many longtime employees bring invaluable experience, knowledge, and dedication developed over years of service,” Grossen said. “Newer team members bring fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and skills that help us continue to learn, improve, and grow.”
The practice is currently led by seven owners. Throughout its history, they have also been proud to have three second-generation owners continue the tradition of independent veterinary ownership. That continuity is a meaningful part of their story and a reflection of the commitment that has guided our practice for generations.
“Our Brodhead location now includes seven exam rooms, while our Monroe location has four,” Grossen said. “Together, these facilities allow us to offer a broad range of services while continuing to provide the personal attention and trusted care our clients have come to expect.”
Veterinary Medicine: Then and Now
Veterinary medicine has changed tremendously since 1951. New technology, treatments, and medical knowledge have created more opportunities to diagnose, treat, and support animals at every stage of life. As the profession has advanced, the business has continued to invest in its people, equipment, and facilities so that they can provide the best care possible.
“Our small-animal services include preventive and general medicine, sick-animal care, digital X-rays, in-house diagnostics, ultrasound, echocardiograms, dentistry, surgery, orthopedic surgery, laser surgery, laser therapy, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, rehabilitation, and underwater treadmill therapy,” Grossen said. “Large-animal care remains an essential part of our practice and an important connection to the agricultural community we serve. Our services include herd health, sick-animal care, equine dentistry, calf ICU services, and other specialized care. At our Brodhead location, a tip chute also helps us provide safe, efficient care for large-animal patients.”
While services and technology have changed significantly over the years, the veterinary business’s purpose has not: to provide thoughtful, compassionate care for every animal entrusted to them.
“Our team is the heart of our practice,” Grossen said. “As we celebrate this milestone, we are especially thankful for the veterinarians and staff members who make our practice what it is today.”
Veterinary medicine is meaningful work, but it can also be demanding. Every day, the team brings skill, patience, compassion, and commitment to the animals in our care and the people who depend on them. From routine visits to urgent situations, doctors and staff work together to support patients and clients through every stage of the journey.
“Providing excellent care takes a team willing to keep learning, communicate well, support one another, and go the extra mile when it matters most. We are fortunate to have that kind of team,” Grossen said.
“To our longtime employees: thank you for the experience, wisdom, and dedication you have shared with our practice over the years. To our newer team members: thank you for the energy, new ideas, and talents you bring as we look toward the future. And to every veterinarian and staff member, past and present: thank you for the long days, late nights, difficult moments, and joyful ones that come with caring for animals. Your work makes a difference every day,” Grossen added. “Our team truly is the heart of our practice, and we are grateful for each person who helps us serve our patients, clients, and communities.”
Honoring those who came before
The 75-year anniversary is not only a celebration of where the business is today — it is also an opportunity to honor the people who helped make this journey possible, Grossen said.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the retired owners, veterinarians, and employees who helped build this practice into what it is today. Their hard work, dedication, knowledge, and care created the foundation on which we continue to grow. They cared for generations of animals, served countless families and farms, and helped establish the values and traditions that still guide our practice. The relationships they built, the knowledge they shared, and the compassion they showed remain an important part of our history.
“To everyone who has retired from our practice, thank you for the time, talent, and heart you gave to this organization. Your impact reaches far beyond the years you spent here, and we are proud to carry your legacy forward.”
Grossen also sends thanks to their clients and community. A veterinary practice is more than a building or a service, she said, it is the people who work there, the animals who come through the doors, and the families, farmers, and community members who place their trust in us.
“For many of our clients, that trust has spanned generations. We have had the privilege of caring for beloved family pets and farm animals for parents, children, and grandchildren,” Grossen said.
Those enduring relationships are among the most meaningful parts of being an independently owned community veterinary practice.
“As we celebrate 75 years, we are reminded that this milestone belongs to everyone who has been part of our story: the veterinarians and employees who came before us; the team members who serve our clients today; the owners who have carried the practice forward; and, most importantly, the clients who have trusted us with the animals they love,” Grossen said. “We are proud of our history, proud of our team, and proud to remain independently owned after 75 years. Most of all, we are grateful for the opportunity to care for your animals and to be a part of your lives, families, farms, and communities.”
Public invitation to celebrate
Grossen invites clients, friends, neighbors, former employees, and community members to join the Brodhead Veterinary Medical Center as they celebrate the special milestone at its 75th Anniversary Open Houses.
The Brodhead Open House will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Brodhead location. The afternoon of food, fun and celebration will include
● Petting zoo from Tuli’s Gardens
● Educational displays
● Raffle prizes
● Kids’ scavenger hunt
● An opportunity to meet Bane, the retired City of Monroe police dog
The Monroe Open House will be the following day, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Festivities include:
● Bounce house
● Educational displays
● Raffle prizes
● Kids’ scavenger hunt
● An opportunity to meet Bane, the retired City of Monroe police dog
Both open houses will offer an opportunity to tour the facilities, meet members of the staff, learn more about veterinary medicine, and celebrate the animals, families, employees, and communities that have played such an important role in the 75-year journey.
“Seventy-five years is an extraordinary milestone, and we could not have reached it without you,” Grossen said. “Thank you for trusting us with the animals you love and for allowing us to be part of your families, farms, and communities. We look forward to celebrating 75 years of caring with you.”
