Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE-Robert G. Ehlenfeldt was born in Beaver Dam to Robert D. and Alice Ehlenfeldt. After serving in the United States Army, during which time he fought in the Vietnam War, Ehlenfeldt decided to attend college and pursue pre-veterinarian requirements, a degree in biology or both. Wanting to avoid a large university, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, after receiving application materials from his wife's cousin, a UWP student at the time. Ehlenfeldt received a Bachelor of Science in biology and zoology from UWP in 1975, graduating summa cum laude.

In 1979, Ehlenfeldt graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. While in matriculation, he also completed short courses in epidemiology, management, budget, communication and labor relations. Ehlenfeldt returned to Platteville after graduation, becoming a partner at the Fletcher Veterinary Clinic. He later served as the district veterinarian for the counties of Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, where he was responsible for investigating a variety of animal diseases such as swine dysentery, scrapie and brucellosis, though his research was primarily concerned with identifying methods of eradicating pseudorabies on farms. He, in fact, directed the first U.S. area tests for its detection and control.

From 1986 to 1988, he supervised and coordinated field activities as the district's field veterinary supervisor for off-site and federal district veterinarians and livestock inspectors. During this time, he established policies for disease reporting, control, treatment and prevention, developing contracts with the Food and Drug Administration. As assistant director of the Wisconsin Animal Health Laboratory (WAHL) in Madison, today, known as the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ehlenfeldt served as a veterinary specialist on trade missions to Thailand, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Korea to promote animal health and Wisconsin livestock.

In 1995, he became the assistant state veterinarian after a stint as director at the WAHL. In 2003, the Division of Animal Health, a subsidiary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, via DATCP Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, named Ehlenfeldt the state veterinarian, responsible for overseeing the health of Wisconsin's farm animals, which represent a multi-billion dollar industry. Under this title, Ehlenfeldt is Wisconsin's chief veterinarian and must address concerns such as biosecurity, chronic wasting disease, mad cow disease, feral pigs and avian influenza.

Ehlenfeldt is widely regarded as an authority on matters of animal health, veterinary disease, and the prevention and treatment of veterinary diseases. Because of this, he is frequently requested to speak at statewide venues on these topics. Moreover, the Capital Times and the Wisconsin State Journal have consulted Ehlenfeldt approximately 80 times for commentary on issues affecting the state's farm animals from 2003 to 2007 and in November of 2007, he was invited to speak before the Committee on Natural Resources. He also serves as an Advisory Board member for the Johne's Disease Integrated Program, which is partly funded by the USDA. Ehlenfeldt additionally represents the state on various other veterinary committees and organizations.

He feels his years at UW-Platteville gave him the confidence he needed to complete veterinary school and excel in his career as a veterinarian. Having not attended school for four and a half years prior to matriculating at UWP, he was understandably nervous about his return. Yet, he found that the faculty of UWP was frequently available and willing to explain more complicated topics covered during his classes to him in greater depth. In fact, it is his fond memories of the faculty, of which include a spring trip taken to Edisto Island, S.C., that have led Ehlenfeldt to stay connected to UWP in the years since his graduation. He also states that he received a solid scientific education at UWP and would recommend the school to anyone.

Ehlenfeldt and wife, Diane, were high school sweethearts and attended the junior prom together. They have three children, Tim, who is a dispatcher for the state patrol and has a wife, Katy and a son, Kaden; Brad, a systems analyst for UW Hospital living near Madison with wife, Rochelle and their children, Caleb and Kylie; and, Amy who is completing a degree in close captioning at MATC and has a husband, Nick and a daughter, Lailah.

Written by: Sunshine Street, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, streetsu@uwplatt.edu