Farm roots, a love for animals and a Farm Bureau incentive help drive a new veterinarian’s return to Mitchell County.

Bailee Bortz always knew she wanted to care for animals.

“I used to pretend to give my stuffed animals shots as a kid,” she said.

On career day in second grade, she donned scrubs with an animal safety pin attached to the lapel, posing as a future veterinarian.

“I was part of 4-H and FFA while I was in school, showing and raising goats, pigs and...