Dr. Ken Reimer (’65) was honored with the William P. Switzer Award in Veterinary Medicine on Aug. 14, at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Research Day. The award, given annually, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society through their achievements, or have made major contributions to the enhancement of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Throughout his career, Dr. Reimer has been known for his dedication and commitment to the dairy industry in northeast Iowa. He was instrumental in establishing the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety at the Northeast Iowa Community College. The Center provides safety training in areas such as tractor rollovers, anhydrous ammonia, community health, agricultural fire safety and rescue.
In 1997, Dr. Reimer was elected to the Northeast Iowa Community College Board of Trustees where he raised funds for student scholarships. He served as the board’s president since 2005. Dr. Reimer is one of the primary individuals who initiated the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation located at Calmar.
Since 1966, Dr. Reimer has donated his time at the Clayton County Fair. He continues to serve as the official veterinarian. He also teaches animal safety at the Clayton County Fourth-Grade Safety Day. For several years, Dr. Reimer has taught third-graders about the ruminant digestive system as part of the Dairy Story at the Dairy Center which has hosted over 5,000 children.
A former practitioner in Elkader, Iowa, Dr. Reimer was one of the leaders in the area of embryo transfers in Northeast Iowa. He is a member of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He and his wife, Alice, have three children.