Ginger H. Kennicker

Ginger H. Kennicker was the only child of Ruth and George Horak. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up moving around the country, graduating from high school in Nutley, New Jersey. She then traveled halfway across the country to rural Iowa State University where she earned B.S. degrees in Dairy Science and Zoology, while working in the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab’s Behavioral Toxicology group. Pursuing her fascination with food animal production, Ginger then went on to study at the College of Veterinary Medicine, graduating with her DVM in the class of 1983. Dr. Kennicker thoroughly enjoyed 11 years in dairy practice in Wisconsin, but especially the time she spent working with students in the ambulatory medicine rotation for the University of Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine. That timeframe was also when she married her husband, Rick Kennicker, and had three children, Jessica Rose and twins, Gabriel George and Lyda Faye Kennicker. Eventually, Dr. Kennicker moved on to work for USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Service in Iowa. This opened doors for her to mentor new veterinarians in FSIS and to continue to interact with veterinary medical students at her alma mater. In both roles she has enjoyed helping students grow, explore their interests and acquire new skills.

My mother is my heroine for her hard work and lifelong dedication to both the veterinary profession and her family. She is the most brilliant, hardworking, honest, professional, dedicated, caring woman I have ever known. My siblings and I are so fortunate to be able to call her our mother. The guidance and love she shares with us, and so many others, resonates throughout the world as her children, students and colleagues travel on to new places, aided by the knowledge and compassion she has imparted upon us.

I love you, mom.