About Us

Winthrop Veterinary Clinic has been serving the local agricultural community since the early 1940s, when Dr. A.J. Murphy first opened the practice with a primary focus on large animal medicine. In 1971, Dr. Don Bowden, a Winthrop native, took over the practice and initially operated the clinic out of his home. Recognizing the growing needs of area producers, he built the current clinic facility in 1973, designing it to better accommodate large animal patients with haul-in capabilities and overnight pens (a welcome improvement for his family). 

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That same year marked the arrival of Dr. Beyer, followed later by Dr. Dutler, expanding the clinic’s ability to serve the region. Shortly after moving into the new facility, Winthrop Veterinary Clinic acquired the Ryan Veterinary Clinic, further extending its reach with two additional veterinarians focused in the Ryan area. In 1975, Dr. Steve Thacher joined the broader team through the Lamont Veterinary Clinic, where he was primarily based while also contributing to the Winthrop practice. By the late 1970s, Dr. Slattery had joined the group, strengthening what had become a busy and highly mobile large animal practice.

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During these decades, veterinary medicine looked much different than it does today. Much of the work was done on farm calls, with veterinarians traveling from operation to operation — often working with feedlots, farrow-to-finish swine barns, and dairies all in the same day. The clinic became deeply woven into the fabric of the local livestock industry, building long-standing relationships with farm families across the area.

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In the mid-1990s, Dr. McMillan joined the team during a time when the region was home to hundreds of farrow-to-finish swine barns. Drs. Bowden, Dutler, and McMillan were heavily involved in individual animal care as well as herd health management, particularly during the pseudorabies eradication era, which was a pivotal time for swine producers in the area. Their work helped local operations navigate significant industry changes while maintaining strong herd health programs.

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As the 2000s ushered in a new generation, leadership and services continued to grow with the addition of Dr. Josh Bowden, Dr. Jeremy Johnson, Dr. Blake Schulte, and Dr. Nathan Geater. In 2025, the clinic welcomed two more veterinarians, Dr. Tessa Kohl and Dr. Madeline Moen, continuing the tradition of investing in the future of large animal medicine in the area.

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While veterinary medicine has advanced significantly over the decades, Winthrop Veterinary Clinic remains grounded in its original mission: providing practical, dependable, large-animal-focused care to the producers and families who call this area home.