Breaking the Barnyard Barrier

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Published by: University of Nevada Press
Release Date: February 17, 2026
Pages: 268
ISBN13: 978-1647792350

 
OVERVIEW

In the late 1970s the golden valley between Utah’s Wasatch Mountains was home to some of the best dairies in the country. That was also where Linda Rhodes, a newly minted large animal veterinarian, had to prove that a woman could do what the Mormon dairymen were sure was a man’s job. She was often scared that they were right. Throughout her experience, she tackled a menagerie of challenging medical and surgical cases that forced her to be fearless. Every bovine life she saved helped her confidence grow, but each failure left her feeling defeated—as did the mounting tensions between pursuing a demanding career and saving a crumbling marriage.

In Breaking the Barnyard Barrier, Linda Rhodes tells the story of how a woman, through grit and tears, made her way in a man’s world and blazed a path that prevailed against career stereotypes.

PRAISE

“Hats off to Linda Rhodes for her masterful storytelling as a veterinarian, innovator, and entrepreneur. Breaking the Barnyard Barrier is a wildly entertaining and inspiring ride through lifeʼs defining moments shaped by curiosity, courage, and a steadfast moral compass—a true testament to whatʼs possible!ˮ
—Kristin Peck, CEO, Zoetis

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading Breaking the Barnyard Barrier, the parallel personal and professional stories, the story of our lives as vets. The family life and background were so interesting and inspiring. As the book describes—life is what you make it, a deeply emotional journey, making hard choices and moving on and taking it all in—the landscapes and the relationships. The story is told beautifully, laying it open sometimes in raw and deeply personal reflections, and with humility and grace among the triumphs, trials, and tribulations.ˮ
—Andrew Hoffman, Gilbert S. Kahn Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

“Breaking the Barnyard Barrier is a stunning memoir by Linda Rhodes, who takes readers on a journey from her student days to the truly climactic scenes of birthing cows in the male bastion of Utahʼs dairy farms. Despite doors closed to her post graduation, and then through the challenges of young marriage, this wonderful veterinarian definitely (and defiantly) is honest to a fault. Revealing the many affronts faced, Rhodes shares how she practiced medicine with dignity and the kindest of hearts—the sort that all females in labor appreciate and remember forever.ˮ
—Marcia Bradley, author of The Home for Wayward Girls, Faculty, Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute

“Dr. Rhodes does an incredible job taking the reader along her journey to achieving her dream of becoming a large animal veterinarian at a time when such a thing—a lady cow vet—really didn't exist! You get to ride shotgun with Dr. Rhodes as she navigates the challenges and prejudices and her personal struggles on her way to fulfilling her lifeʼs dream. The story is well written and enjoyable, although sometimes frustrating to read as you learn of all the obstacles Dr. Rhodes had to overcome. If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a veterinarian, much less a woman veterinarian in a manʼs world, and to come out on top, this is a must read!ˮ
—Douglas Mader, author of The Vet at Noahʼs Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner City Animal Hospital

“This is a fascinating account of the struggles and successes of a woman veterinarian entering large animal practice in the 1970s. Cattle medicine is difficult because the animals are large, not always cooperative, and given to calving in the middle of the night. Struggling with cold, exhaustion, and the hostility of the farmers was a challenge, but a challenge Dr. Linda Rhodes was up to. By the end of her two years practicing in a Mormon community she had earned the respect of the dairymen. Anyone interested in veterinary medicine or womenʼs struggles to obtain equality in the health professions will enjoy this well-written book.ˮ
—Katheryn Houpt, veterinarian, professor emeritus, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine