Behind the Scenes with a Vermont Country Vet | Photos
What is it like to be a Vermont country vet? We asked photographer Mark Fleming to document three days with large-animal veterinarian Tom Stuwe.
By Heather Marcus|Apr 14 2017|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
In the fall of 2016, Yankee senior photographer Mark Fleming spent three days traveling the back roads of Vermont with large-animal veterinarian Tom Stuwe for the March/April 2017 feature, “A Farmer’s Best Friend.” During those three days, they x-rayed a horse’s hoof, performed surgery on a cow, castrated a bull, and inoculated an entire herd of dairy cows. Mark’s goal for the assignment was to give the reader a true “fly on the wall” experience, and a behind the scenes look at a profession that many are curious about, but not many get to see. One look at the images below, and we think you’ll understand why Mark considers riding shotgun with Tom one of his top 10 assignments of all time.
Behind the Scenes with Vermont Country Vet Tom Stuwe
DVM Tom Stuwe stands in the door of a goat barn just outside Cabot, VT, awaiting the arrival of his patients from the back field. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingThe view from the passenger seat of Tom’s customized Chevy Silverado. Over the course of my travels with Tom, we definitely spent more time on dirt than on pavement. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe talks politics with a long-time client in-between trimming the hooves of a female goat. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingSome kids are excited to show off whenever a visitor enters their pen. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe performs a Coggins test on a horse in Waitsfield, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe’s veterinarian kit has evolved over the years to include several specialized bags and boxes, and in this case, a custom-made wooden tool box. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe sews up the eyelid of a horse at Water Tower Farm in Marshfield, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe washes his hands after performing surgery in the barn at Simpson Farm in Sutton, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingA horse recovers from anesthesia after minor surgery to repair a torn eyelid at Water Tower Farm in Marshfield, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingTom Stuwe shares a laugh with a client at Howvale Farm in Tunbridge, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingA beautiful view from the back field of the Carpenter Farm in Cabot, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe gives a 1,000-pound Holstein a shot to help it recover from the sedative administered during a surgery to correct a displaced abomasum at Simpson Farm in Sutton, VT Photo Credit : Mark FlemingClose-up of DVM Stuwe’s coveralls. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingRosa, the inquisitive calf, at Howvale Farm in Tunbridge, VT. Photo Credit : Mark FlemingDVM Stuwe gathers his tools from the veterinarian-customized bed of his Chevrolet Silverado. The bed has a refrigerator, heater, and running hot and cold water. Photo Credit : Mark Fleming
About Mark Fleming
Photographer Mark Fleming was born in Hartford, Connecticut, but his family moved to mid-coast Maine when he was 8 years old. Growing up in Maine had a huge influence on him, especially on his photography. He studied photojournalism in the shadow of Kodak, at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Since then he has worked for a collection of great publications and corporations including REI, Coleman Company, Boston Magazine, Down East Magazine, and LL Bean. He currently lives in beautiful Portland, Maine.
Mark is excited to be joining the team here at Yankee as our senior photographer. The country vet assignment is a perfect example of why he is so excited about this position. Being able to spend several days with a subject and really immerse yourself in a story, is such an amazing opportunity as a photographer.
To see more of Mark’s work please visit markflemingphoto.com
What a wonderful story and beautiful pictures. It brought back memories of my husband and I working our herd of approximately 50 head of cattle. Loved it.
Reading this in Alaska, I reflect my times in Vermont at the Bailey Hanger, Tom stopping by to discuss Flying. His other passion! Tom is a long time Pilot & airplane owner! Keep them flying Tom????
Our daughter in law is finishing her 1st year at Tuskeegee Vet school in Alabama, and wants to specialize in large animal. We’ll show her the article about Tom – a real classic, well written.
He’s been our vet since Ruth and him moved into neighborhood over 30 years ago. He’s taken care of our cows, goats, sheep, dogs and cats. He is a sweetheart!
I loved this story about Tom Stuwe. What an amazing person. He is doing one of the things we were created to do, namely to “take care of every living creature that is moving on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) Tom is certainly created in The “likeness” of God. May he be blessed in his well-earned retirement. Thank you, Mark Fleming for bringing this story to Yankee readers!
this made me homesick for my family and friends in Cabot. VT Great story
What a wonderful story and beautiful pictures. It brought back memories of my husband and I working our herd of approximately 50 head of cattle. Loved it.
What a wonderful article about a wonderful man! Tom is also our veterinarian and is just fantastic ! Couldn’t run our farm without him, for sure!
Reading this in Alaska, I reflect my times in Vermont at the Bailey Hanger, Tom stopping by to discuss Flying. His other passion! Tom is a long time Pilot & airplane owner! Keep them flying Tom????
Beautiful pictures of one of my favorite people! Tom is my vet, and a talented photographer in his own right.
Wonderful article, Tom is my vet also, wonderful man, great Vet. Always patient and caring with my horse.
Our daughter in law is finishing her 1st year at Tuskeegee Vet school in Alabama, and wants to specialize in large animal. We’ll show her the article about Tom – a real classic, well written.
Tom, the “salt of the earth” in caring for those farm animals and their owners.
He’s been our vet since Ruth and him moved into neighborhood over 30 years ago. He’s taken care of our cows, goats, sheep, dogs and cats. He is a sweetheart!
He is the best! He has treated our horses, sheep, dog and cats as well.
Wonderful written story about a God sent always willing to answer my questions . My self and my horses are very Thankful we have Tom.
I loved this story about Tom Stuwe. What an amazing person. He is doing one of the things we were created to do, namely to “take care of every living creature that is moving on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) Tom is certainly created in The “likeness” of God. May he be blessed in his well-earned retirement. Thank you, Mark Fleming for bringing this story to Yankee readers!