Dr. Robert Bogan, above, will be honored this January as the annual recipient of the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award. Apart from providing years of veterinary care in Blue Earth, Bogan has also participated in several local organizations.

When asked, Dr. Robert Bogan decides past recipients of the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce’s Community Service Award have been “usually friendly and outgoing, and willing to help others.” 

Bogan also says he was quite surprised upon finding out he himself would be joining the ranks of Blue Earth Community Service Awardees.

He will be presented with the award on Jan. 21 at the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and awards program, which will take place at 10 Talents Art Center.

A social hour with appetizers will begin at 6 p.m., with the meeting and presentation of awards taking place at 7 p.m. Those interested in attending may call the Chamber to purchase tickets.

A long-time resident and veterinarian in Blue Earth, Bogan has been dedicated to the well-being of Blue Earth’s four-legged residents for many years.

“I’ve been here since 1973,” he says.

Before arriving in Blue Earth, however, Bogan began his life’s journey in State Center, Iowa. He completed his post-secondary education not far from his hometown.

“I went to school in Ames, Iowa,” Bogan says.

Following his graduation, Bogan began his veterinary career in Osage, Iowa. After two years, however, Bogan and his wife found themselves looking to relocate.

“We wanted a town of about 4,000,” he recalls.

Makotah Clinic in Blue Earth, which was searching for a third veterinarian at the time, happened to be located in such a town. Bogan has been offering his veterinary services to the community ever since.

For nearly 50 years, Bogan’s priority has been providing those 4,000 people, now a little over 3,000, with accessible, quality care for their furry friends.

That dedication has become Bogan’s legacy.

Though Bogan has expressed interest in retiring soon, he has been steadfast in his resolve not to do so until a replacement veterinarian can be found.

“It’s nice not to have to go 30 miles for a vet,” Bogan reasons, adding that, were it not for Makotah Clinic, area residents would have to travel as far as Fairmont, Mapleton, St. James, or Mankato to find another clinic to fulfill their needs.

“It’s even more important for people with livestock,” Bogan adds. While it is easier to transport a dog or cat to another town for care, though they may protest, the same cannot be said for larger animals.

Bogan has held true to his promise, waiting years for the right candidate to emerge.

In a now nationally-known story, Bogan offered to gift a prospective veterinarian his clinic in return for their promise to dedicate their services to the Blue Earth community.

After years of searching, Bogan can finally say he has found a young veterinarian who will be able to carry on his work.

Dr. Zach Adams, who hails from North Carolina, just arrived at Makotah Clinic on Monday, Jan. 3, and has since begun to learn the ropes of his new work environment.

Bogan is in no rush to fully retire from his position, however, and plans to stick around while Adams adjusts.

After all, Bogan counts his time at Makotah Clinic, in particular time spent with fellow staff members, as his most meaningful time in Blue Earth.

“My staff mean the most to me,” Bogan says. “You can joke around and laugh, and have fun. And, most enjoy animals to begin with, so when you get little pups in here to play with, it makes things even more fun.”

Bogan’s community service has extended beyond Makotah Clinic as well, however.

“It’s a friendly community,” Bogan says of Blue Earth. He has found many ways to become involved in the city’s comings and goings over the years.

“If you have an inclination to join a church, that’s a good place to start,” Bogan suggests, adding he himself has been a member of Trinity Lutheran Church since his arrival in Blue Earth in 1973.

“I was one of the trustees on the Board of Deacons,” Bogan remembers. “And I was on the building committee when we built a new church.” 

Bogan says the enormous undertaking took place in 1997. “We kept the education wing, but tore down the existing church and rebuilt it,” he recalls.

Bogan has also been involved in several other community ventures over the decades.

“I was on the Chamber Board in 1980,” Bogan says. During his time on the board, he was involved in a project with a very unusual name.

“The project we started at that time was the Putnam Park Potty Fund,” Bogan says. The playfully alliterative project was organized to raise funds for a public restroom facility at Putnam Park.

Finally, Bogan has helped champion the protection of a small, but very important facial feature: the ear.

“I’m a member of Sertoma. The main emphasis is speech and hearing,” Bogan says. The nation-wide organization specifically advocates for individuals who are at-risk or impacted by hearing loss.

“A lot of the projects come from the international organization,” Bogan continues.

One such project is titled Project Safe Ears. “We go to fourth grade classrooms, and teach the students how loud sounds can damage your hearing,” Bogan says.

The organization also hands out earplugs at local events, such as the annual Demolition Derby held at the Faribault County Fair, which can be rough on the ears.

Bogan admires countless other organizations which Blue Earth hosts.

“There are a number of clubs, like the Lions and the Legion,” Bogan begins. “There is Meals on Wheels, and at Christmas time there is the Campout at Jubas.” 

Bogan’s favorite thing about Blue Earth seems to be its people, however.

“A lot of good people live here,” he says. “It’s nice to walk down the street and see someone you know.”

He continues, “They (residents) take a lot of pride in their schools. People shovel their neighbors’ driveways when they are gone or disabled, and once when there was a fire out by the laundromat, people came together to help.” 

Apart from the community, however, Bogan is particularly grateful for those whom he knows and loves best: his family members.

“My wife (Kay) has been putting up with me doing this for 50 years,” says Bogan, gesturing toward his clinic. “I have to appreciate that.”

Though Bogan does not envision their life changing too drastically after his retirement, there is one thing he hopes will occupy more of their time: “Visiting our grandkids,” he says, with a smile.