Amber Toews may be the new veterinarian at Hillsboro Animal Clinic, but she?s familiar with the area and with owner and senior veterinarian Norman Galle.
?He?s been a friend of my family for a long time,? she said.
For most of her childhood, Toews lived on a farm about a mile and a half north of Walton and attended schools in Hesston.
Even from her earliest years, Toews said she knew she wanted to work with animals. She participated in 4-H and then FFA during her high school years.
After graduating in 2001, she enrolled at Kansas State Univer?sity, where she was on the horse-judging team and earned her degree in animal science in 2005.
She then enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine, completing her degree there in 2009, the same year she was married to husband Bret.
In November 2009, she began working at the Hesston Veterin?ary Clinic as an associate veterinarian.
When Bret was assigned to work as a herd manager at Wildcat Creek Ranch, they both were looking for a closer commute and moved to rural Peabody.
When an opening emerged at Hillsboro Animal Clinic, Amber was interested. She started work there Sept. 12. ?I?ve really enjoyed it so far,? she said.
Most of Toews?s work experience has been with small-animal medicine. She continues to work in that area, but in her new role, she?s been getting more exposure to the large-animal side of the practice.
?I?m enjoying that, and I?m learning a lot,? she said.
Toews said she?s looking forward to getting to know and serve the community as well as the clinic?s clients.
