Zack chose parents’ path

Both longtime veterinarians, Jim and Teresa Wasson were proud when their son Zack wanted to follow in their footsteps.
The couple met while attending the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where they both graduated from in 1982.
Zack, 30, knew he wanted to be a veterinarian since he was a boy. “I was pretty young. I rode a lot with dad. We used to do a lot more farm calls. There used to be a lot more small farms and farm animals. So I used to spend a lot of time riding with him. I’d say I was pretty young when I wanted to do that — maybe eight. That was pretty much always my plan,” Zack said.
He was home-schooled by his parents, as were his brothers Jeremy and Ranson and sister Rachel (Grile).
The field is very competitive, and Zack didn’t get accepted into the program after he graduated from Purdue, but he didn’t let it spoil his hopes and dreams.
In 2010 he was accepted to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, located on St. Kitts in the Caribbean. He studied there for 16 months and then transferred to Iowa State University where he graduated from this year.
His parents bought the Redkey Veterinary Clinic from Dr. Max Peters, after they graduated from Purdue. Peters also followed in the footsteps of his father Leroy, who started the clinic in 1912.
“They all grew up in here,” Teresa said of their children, whose first jobs were cleaning the animal’s cages. Their daughter works there as well as their daughter-in-law Melissa.
Zack’s parents never encouraged their children to join the family business. They wanted to make sure they chose careers they would enjoy.
“I see so many unhappy people working for a paycheck. They hate their job. So we didn’t try to influence our kids,” Jim said of Zack’s decision.
“I’m the same way, but I preached to Zack that if he was interested in going that direction that he would have to get good grades and it would be hard work. He doesn’t give up very easily,” Teresa said.
Zack enjoys working in the family business.
“It’s good. Coming straight out of vet school with all the most modern ways of doing things was how I’ve been taught the last four years, versus some of the maybe old school ways that still prevail here. You know kind of that blending those together sometimes is interesting,” he said. “We have to try to make sure things can still run smoothly, so that we are still practicing good medicine and our clients are still receiving the same small town qualities of care that have always been practiced here, while trying to improve the way we practice medicine a little bit and modernize it. So it’s a balance between doing those things.”
Jim and Teresa had already planned on updating to more modern equipment, but after Zack joined the practice the three decided it was the right time.
They had already done extensive remodeling in 1995, when 900 square feet was added on to the front of the building that included a larger waiting room, more exam rooms and a surgery room. Then, 1,200 square feet was added to the back in 2009 for an isolation room, radiology room, surgery suite, feline room, grooming suite, doctor’s office, larger kennel and staff break room.
Recent updates include a digital radiography machine for developing ex-rays instead of having to develop them with chemicals and the ability to do in house blood work that takes 15 minutes instead of a day or two.
Jim, who is 11 years older than Teresa, is planning to work part-time and will spend part of the winter in Florida. Zack said his dad’s standing joke with the family has been, “When I got out of school, I’d be getting welcomed in the front door while dad was getting kicked out the back door.”
“I’ll be here till they lock their door,” Jim said. “I love being a veterinarian.” He likes joking with customers, telling them “Hey you get the new vet today.” “I’m very proud of him,” he said of his son.
Teresa has looked forward to working with her son for a long time. “And it did happen. It’s refreshing and you get a little boost of enthusiasm. I love it.”
Zack has been married to his wife Missy for almost 10 years. They have four boys — ages six, five, two and six months. Zack plans to buy the practice one day from his parents.
“Yea, I love it. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I try not to take it for granted because I get to do what I love,” Zack said.