Dr. Grant Venema grew up in Morrison, IL and later moved to Geneseo where he completed high school. As a boy, he loved reading the memoirs of veterinarian James Herriot and dreamed of one day having a veterinary practice of his own where he could make a lifetime of memories helping the people and animals of his community. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 2004, and graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2009. In his free time, Dr. Venema enjoys outdoor activities with his family such as fishing, camping, and hiking. He lives outside of Geneseo with his wife Erica, their four children, Wally the golden retriever, and Peter the cat.