Lancaster County veterinarian Bob Stoltzfus is the author of a new book, "Where the Grass Grows Greener - Inspirational Stories from a Lancaster County Veterinarian." The book features 23 stories about Stoltzfus' personal life and his life as a veterinarian.

Stoltzfus, who spent 42 years as a full-time bovine veterinarian, grew up on a 142-acre dairy farm in Oley. After graduating from Christopher Dock High School in Lansdale, he enrolled in Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Va., where he was in the pre-med program, graduating with a degree in biology. He went on to receive his veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania. EMU is also where he met his wife, Joyce, whom he married in 1973. Bob and Joyce have three children and seven grandchildren.

In 1980, Stoltzfus partnered with Drs. Chris Barton and Bob Munson to form Lancaster Veterinary Associates. In 2002, Dr. Bridget Griffin joined the group. The practice is almost exclusively bovine with the workload now split between five veterinarians.

In 2022, Stoltzfus backed off from the physical demands of daily farm visits to focus on providing nutritional consulting services to nearby dairy farms, which range in size from 60 cows to 2,500 animals. The switch from full-time veterinarian to part-time consultant created a schedule with fewer daytime obligations, allowing him time write the book.

Stoltzfus noted that while "Where the Grass Grows Greener" is written for a general audience, he thinks farmers will appreciate seeing the veterinary side of farming from a veterinarian's point of view.

In addition to personal stories about loss, the book includes stories about Stoltzfus' trips to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to consult with dairy farmers in those countries. Shortly before the publication of "Where the Grass Grows Greener," Stoltzfus traveled to Israel, where he toured holy sites for three days and then spent a week doing farm chores for farmers near Gaza who were called to active duty as part of Israel's continuing war. Stoltzfus' son Kendal accompanied him to Israel.

For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, visit http://www.masthof.com and search for the book by its title.