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Fields and Pastures New: My First Year as a Country Vet
The warm and gently humorous memoir of a young veterinarian's first year of practice in Choctaw County, Alabama, in the early 1960s. "I can relate to Dr. McCormack on page after page of this book. In his writing he beguilingly captures the laughter and tears of the veterinary scene. A heartwarming read for the animal lover."--James Herriot.
265 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 1995
7 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
John McCormack
60 books4 followersDr. John McCormack is a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Georgia. A native of Tennessee, he received his DVM degree from Auburn University and for ten years ran a successful veterinary practice in Choctaw County, Alabama, which is the setting for his books. A proud Dad and Granddad, he lives in Athens, Georgia, with his wife, Jan.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 26, 2015
It is always a pleasure to read about lovable descriptions on country life and heartwarming stories on the synergy between humans and animals; and the numerous memoirs by animal lovers like James Herriot and Gerald Durrell can easily be considered as some of the best examples within this genre. And with ‘Fields and Pastures New’ by veterinarian John McCormack, I have discovered another author who can equally delight the reader with his warm descriptions of rural life.
The book presents the reader with the story of how McCormack, a total stranger and outsider to the Choctaw County, in Alabama, gains the respect as a veterinary doctor and acceptance as a friendly neighbor within the community through his acts of healing the sick animals and taking care of them with kindness and patience. With a Degree in ‘Doctor of Veterinary Medicine’ and a few months of experience as an assistant to other vets under his belt, John McCormack along with his wife and 2 young kids moves to ‘Butler’, Choctaw County in 1963, looking for a bright beginning for his career as a veterinarian. And the community there, who never had a licensed veterinary practitioner among them, receives him with much enthusiasm.
With in a few minutes of landing at Butler, we see McCormack meeting with his first patient, a 4 week old puppy who was suffering from an acute case of hookworms, and performing surgery and blood transfusion even before getting settled into his new home. McCormack succeeds in launching his career on a positive note by saving the life of his first patient and what a career it is; we will meet stories of success, stories of joy, stories that can inspire, stories of frustrations & failure and even stories that will make you sad while traveling along with McCormack as he takes the reader through fascinating narrations of his medical encounters with animals, experiences with their owners and share pictorial descriptions of the rural surroundings. Initially the villagers treat him as an outsider but a string of successful medical cases soon finds him and his family a special place with in the community.
McCormack also brings the ever-present prospect of getting called away for duty from personal moments of life even at ungodly hours that is part of the professional life of doctors and vets in great focus with in the book.
This description from an incident were he gets called away for performing an amputation on a dog with gangrene while he was leaving with his family on a Christmas Eve to visit his wife’s folks is a great example to this unpredictability that is part of a doctor’s career.
Like life, within these narrations we can find every form of emotion –happiness, disappointments, sadness over loss and new hopes - that one can imagine. Readers who are familiar with James Herriot’s works will find some elements of similarity between Herriot’s memoirs and McCormack’s book, but they differ greatly in the atmosphere that they exude as they are both set in entirely different geographic and cultural settings and McCormack presents his family and their involvement in his medical adventures with the animals in more elaborate detail. Like Herriot, McCormack also infuses a sense of lightness into his narration through humor and also presents some of the best descriptions of the special bond between animals and their owners within his narrative.
‘Fields and Pastures New’, which describes the initial days of McCormack’s veterinary career, is a delightful reading material for those who love animals and nature.
The book presents the reader with the story of how McCormack, a total stranger and outsider to the Choctaw County, in Alabama, gains the respect as a veterinary doctor and acceptance as a friendly neighbor within the community through his acts of healing the sick animals and taking care of them with kindness and patience. With a Degree in ‘Doctor of Veterinary Medicine’ and a few months of experience as an assistant to other vets under his belt, John McCormack along with his wife and 2 young kids moves to ‘Butler’, Choctaw County in 1963, looking for a bright beginning for his career as a veterinarian. And the community there, who never had a licensed veterinary practitioner among them, receives him with much enthusiasm.
With in a few minutes of landing at Butler, we see McCormack meeting with his first patient, a 4 week old puppy who was suffering from an acute case of hookworms, and performing surgery and blood transfusion even before getting settled into his new home. McCormack succeeds in launching his career on a positive note by saving the life of his first patient and what a career it is; we will meet stories of success, stories of joy, stories that can inspire, stories of frustrations & failure and even stories that will make you sad while traveling along with McCormack as he takes the reader through fascinating narrations of his medical encounters with animals, experiences with their owners and share pictorial descriptions of the rural surroundings. Initially the villagers treat him as an outsider but a string of successful medical cases soon finds him and his family a special place with in the community.
McCormack also brings the ever-present prospect of getting called away for duty from personal moments of life even at ungodly hours that is part of the professional life of doctors and vets in great focus with in the book.
“Here I am, out on a cold Christmas Eve trying to do the impossible. No light, a dog that’s got to have a leg removed, my spouse and children waiting in the car. A typical McCormack mess…”
This description from an incident were he gets called away for performing an amputation on a dog with gangrene while he was leaving with his family on a Christmas Eve to visit his wife’s folks is a great example to this unpredictability that is part of a doctor’s career.
Like life, within these narrations we can find every form of emotion –happiness, disappointments, sadness over loss and new hopes - that one can imagine. Readers who are familiar with James Herriot’s works will find some elements of similarity between Herriot’s memoirs and McCormack’s book, but they differ greatly in the atmosphere that they exude as they are both set in entirely different geographic and cultural settings and McCormack presents his family and their involvement in his medical adventures with the animals in more elaborate detail. Like Herriot, McCormack also infuses a sense of lightness into his narration through humor and also presents some of the best descriptions of the special bond between animals and their owners within his narrative.
‘Fields and Pastures New’, which describes the initial days of McCormack’s veterinary career, is a delightful reading material for those who love animals and nature.
June 3, 2020
Most enjoyable - 5 stars - Felt like I was living in 1950s Deep South, traveling with Dr. John. Meeting delightful characters, ones with memorable language. Being at the outdoor surgeries, watching the treatment of challenging animals and skillfully tolerated pet owners, learning about the Alabama area, laughing out loud.
September 25, 2019
In the best tradition of James Herriot, Dr. John McCormack's deadpan delivery of veterinary anecdotes is a treat!
Like Herriot, McCormack pulls no punches in letting himself be the butt of jokes. As happens so often when working with animals, you can be made a fool of in many MANY creative ways! McCormack's love of animals comes through strongly in this book, and it is enjoyable in every way.
When McCormack and his family move to Choctaw County, Alabama, he's not there ten minutes when a deathly ill puppy shows up, desperately needing a blood transfusion—and he's off to a roaring start. He delivers a calf, only to have the cow jump up and literally jump in the lake and swim away. He works for the Livestock Stockyard, for farmers with huge herds, and people with one beloved pet.
He has to navigate a tricky path dealing with the local “homemade” animal doctor, Carney Sam. Luckily at their first meeting, McCormack is able to diagnose and immediately treat a dog suffering from Eclampsia, turning an extremely ill dog into a happy, wagging, healthy one in minutes, thus earning Sam's respect.
The work for the stockyard has a huge and painful learning curve. The pay was good, and it was a good way to meet cowboys and farmers (his main clientele)--but fingers were constantly smashed, feet were trampled, ribs were bruised, foreheads lacerated—and egos crushed on a regular basis.
He performs the first surgery in the county for removing pieces of wire from a cow's intestine, and castrates a 900 lb boar with football sized testicles. The testicles are eaten and considered a delicacy locally, by the way.
McCormack talks about the phenomenon that other veterinarians have mentioned, where people pass out while the vet is working. Generally the two things that cause this most often are the sight of blood, and the frequent unpleasant odors veterinary procedures are subject to. His experiences jibe with what others have said—men are the fainters, women never. The bigger the man, the more likely he is to faint. The more physically fit and rugged and athletic the guy is, the more likely he is to drop like a rock out of the blue.
Also, McCormack admits than for some reason, when people are overcome by nausea that cause HIM to be overcome by barely controlled gales of laughter!
Any animal lover would enjoy this book, and fans of James Herriot will love it!
Like Herriot, McCormack pulls no punches in letting himself be the butt of jokes. As happens so often when working with animals, you can be made a fool of in many MANY creative ways! McCormack's love of animals comes through strongly in this book, and it is enjoyable in every way.
When McCormack and his family move to Choctaw County, Alabama, he's not there ten minutes when a deathly ill puppy shows up, desperately needing a blood transfusion—and he's off to a roaring start. He delivers a calf, only to have the cow jump up and literally jump in the lake and swim away. He works for the Livestock Stockyard, for farmers with huge herds, and people with one beloved pet.
He has to navigate a tricky path dealing with the local “homemade” animal doctor, Carney Sam. Luckily at their first meeting, McCormack is able to diagnose and immediately treat a dog suffering from Eclampsia, turning an extremely ill dog into a happy, wagging, healthy one in minutes, thus earning Sam's respect.
The work for the stockyard has a huge and painful learning curve. The pay was good, and it was a good way to meet cowboys and farmers (his main clientele)--but fingers were constantly smashed, feet were trampled, ribs were bruised, foreheads lacerated—and egos crushed on a regular basis.
He performs the first surgery in the county for removing pieces of wire from a cow's intestine, and castrates a 900 lb boar with football sized testicles. The testicles are eaten and considered a delicacy locally, by the way.
McCormack talks about the phenomenon that other veterinarians have mentioned, where people pass out while the vet is working. Generally the two things that cause this most often are the sight of blood, and the frequent unpleasant odors veterinary procedures are subject to. His experiences jibe with what others have said—men are the fainters, women never. The bigger the man, the more likely he is to faint. The more physically fit and rugged and athletic the guy is, the more likely he is to drop like a rock out of the blue.
Also, McCormack admits than for some reason, when people are overcome by nausea that cause HIM to be overcome by barely controlled gales of laughter!
Any animal lover would enjoy this book, and fans of James Herriot will love it!
October 26, 2013
A very enjoyable book comparable to James Herriot's farm stories, though set in the rural American south instead of England. McCormack is a new vet whose career move takes him to small-town Alabama, where the people have never had a real vet and instead relied on the wisdom of treatments handed down for generations and 'Carny Sam' a local guy who is said to have a way with animals but no formal training. The townfolk seem skeptical of McCormack at first, especially because with his 'city knowledge' comes city prices, though he tries to be reasonable while still supporting his wife and 2 sons. A few wisely chosen appearances and miraculous saves of certain animals, and he quickly becomes a favorite of the town, even having some human customers profess that they'd rather come to him for treatment of an ailment than see their own physicians.
Most of his patients are farm animals, cows, horses, and the like, though he does have a few experiences with prized hunting dogs and spoiled lap dogs owned by his wealthier clients. Both the setting and the time in which the book was set (1960s) mean that his treatments may seem archaic and unconventional, but given what he had to work with and what the animals had known to that point, he made great strides for that community.
While I would be interested in more of his stories from his many years of practice, from what I could find, this is his only book. A shame because the book was very well-paced and easy to read a little at a time.
Most of his patients are farm animals, cows, horses, and the like, though he does have a few experiences with prized hunting dogs and spoiled lap dogs owned by his wealthier clients. Both the setting and the time in which the book was set (1960s) mean that his treatments may seem archaic and unconventional, but given what he had to work with and what the animals had known to that point, he made great strides for that community.
While I would be interested in more of his stories from his many years of practice, from what I could find, this is his only book. A shame because the book was very well-paced and easy to read a little at a time.
August 4, 2025
An American version of All Creatures Great and Small. Well written and humorous, it’s a quick, enjoyable read.
June 25, 2018
I love farm animals. When I picked up Dr. John McCormack's "Fields and Pastures New," and saw the James Herriot endorsement ("He beguilingly captures the laughter and tears of the veterinary scene. A heartwarming read."), I knew I had something to look forward to. I wasn't disappointed. Comparing the McCormack book to Herriot's books is not fair. The time frames are different and we've all seen the Herriot BBC programs ("All Creatures Great and Small"). The McCormack book is an interesting read especially to those of us who farmed in the 1960s or who grew up in the same time - the characters in the book are generally people we lived around and knew on a personal basis. I enjoyed Dr. McCormack's perspective as a veterinarian and the warmth he felt for even the most cantankerous old farmer. His love of animals is apparent on every page. His interactions with his clientele are funny, warm, and sometimes in contradiction to his training as a vet. I think there were one or two elderly farmers in every farming community who had that special "touch" with animals, who were the ones our dads would call upon to help with a sick animal before vets were commonplace. These older fellows were more often than not close to or on the mark with their diagnoses, and Dr. McCormack's ability to work with and not against these respected community healers is especially heartwarming. This is a book that many will enjoy reading after their evenin' chores are done.
March 3, 2019
I loved this book!! I bought a signed copy back in 1995, put it on my shelf to "read later." I guess 24 years counts as "later." LOL!!
Not only did I enjoy the book for the animal stories and his lively descriptions of the human characters, it's set in Butler, Alabama which is about 40 miles away from where I live. In fact, he mentioned our town several times in this book.
I don't know WHY I waited so long to read this, but so glad I finally did. A lot of reviews mention the similarity to Dr. Herriot's books. They definitely are, with an American Southern flavor.
Much to my joy I discovered he has written several other books detailing his life as a vet, and I can't wait to find and read every one!!
If you like books with humor, animals, and "interesting" people, you will love this book.
Not only did I enjoy the book for the animal stories and his lively descriptions of the human characters, it's set in Butler, Alabama which is about 40 miles away from where I live. In fact, he mentioned our town several times in this book.
I don't know WHY I waited so long to read this, but so glad I finally did. A lot of reviews mention the similarity to Dr. Herriot's books. They definitely are, with an American Southern flavor.
Much to my joy I discovered he has written several other books detailing his life as a vet, and I can't wait to find and read every one!!
If you like books with humor, animals, and "interesting" people, you will love this book.
October 5, 2014
The book was an interesting "updated version" of the James Herriot books. I did not like this book as much as John McCormack is not as positive and the book had more focus on his married life. I understand but I was interested in the animals and what he did as a Vet.
I did read the other two. Same idea. :>
I did read the other two. Same idea. :>
February 16, 2020
I graduated from University of Georgia school of veterinary medicine in 1979. I never met Dr. Mc Cormack, but his name was frequently mentioned by senior students working under him.By the time I started large animal clinics he was no longer with the university. By 1979 a lot of changes had taken place and Dr. Mc Cormack early experiences would be available to me. But my experiences in school and forays onto rural Georgia farms were rekindled by this book.After graduation I returned to Virginia to eventually takeover a small animal practice. As if from out of the book ,one of first clients pulled into the parking lot with a goat that I castrated in the back of his pickup truck.Any a fan of James Herriot would love this book.
June 28, 2025
The book was an interesting, enjoyable and fairly easy read about a veterinarian starting out his career in Choctaw County, Alabama in the early 1960s. I wanted to love the book, but it turned out to be a lot like watching a long episode of Green Acres with the variety of uneducated bumpkins thwarting the author's every attempt to bring veterinary care to the animals in the county. None of the residents could even pronounce the word veterinarian and most have an enormous distrust of 'the guvmint'. Of course when the author meets with Alabama's governor, they all beg him to ask the Governor for road repairs, boat ramps and money from the guvmint they hate. The people are not as endearing as other reviews lead you to believe. Note: I lived in Alabama for a short time during the 1970s.
January 8, 2026
Much too much like Herriot's books but no credit given. Takes place in the SE US and I just cannot manage to empathize with the lifestyles and perspectives of the people who choose to live there. My mother gave up reading it because she felt that McCormack was mocking the people of his community. I didn't quite see it that way, but I did manage to finish it.
Not as good as Herriot's books, imo, because there's too much about the people and not enough about the animals.
And why oh why did he not advise the owners of the cows to collect or at least tie up the beasts so the vet didn't have to chase and lasso them?
Not as good as Herriot's books, imo, because there's too much about the people and not enough about the animals.
And why oh why did he not advise the owners of the cows to collect or at least tie up the beasts so the vet didn't have to chase and lasso them?
March 18, 2019
What a truly delightful book. There were many times I found myself laughing so hard I had to wipe away the tears so that I could see to keep reading.
I have already set this book aside to lend to my mom and dad. I can only imagine that they will love it as much as I did since we had a small farm with large animals when I was growing up.
You won't be disappointed with this book if you are looking for an entertaining heartfelt read.
I have already set this book aside to lend to my mom and dad. I can only imagine that they will love it as much as I did since we had a small farm with large animals when I was growing up.
You won't be disappointed with this book if you are looking for an entertaining heartfelt read.
June 8, 2018
Very enjoyable book for anyone who likes reading about a veterinarians interactions with animals and their owners. Reminiscent of the James Herriot books, only set in the American south rather than Yorkshire England.
September 6, 2017
Some funny and some yukky animal treatments
the author met up with during his first year as
a rural vet.
Easy reading.
the author met up with during his first year as
a rural vet.
Easy reading.
August 11, 2020
What a pleasure to read! Clearly Dr. McCormack loves the people he served and their many animals.
January 30, 2023
Highly entertaining and fascinating!
April 17, 2010
This book got me through my husband's hospital stay! Very pleasant stories for people who are fond of animals and interested in their medical treatment. This nonfiction account took place in the 60s so the treatments were a little different then. Fascinating what a vet can carry out under not so sterile environments. Lots of humor about the people in the rural south, especially as far as those unlicensed "vets" and the strange treatments handed down through the generations. The book did have the same feel as "All Creatures Great and Small." There were no real upsetting descriptions of hard to take animal abuse. Thanks goodness...
November 2, 2007
This is a book about a mixed animal vet practicing in the rural South in the 1960's. Dr. McCormack writes in a straightforward fashion reminiscing about his first year of practice, but doesn't become overly sentimental as James Herriot can be. He writes honestly and lovingly about the people he encounters with their animals as well as the animals themselves. He explains veterinary diseases in simple layman terms and often contrasts his diagnoses with those of the prevailing layman views of the time. This book is funny, touching, and does the veterinary profession proud.
February 21, 2009
This was a delightful book about the author's first year as a country vet in rural Alabama in the 1960's. Although he was a Southern boy himself, he wasn't used to the extreme rural living that he found in Choctaw County. This book is reminiscent of the ones by James Herriot of England--lots of adventures with large animals and a humorous, compassionate look at their owners who became his friends (for the most part!)
March 30, 2015
This was a very pleasant, short read. I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I was much younger, but alas, my academic talents did not include math & science. So now I can live vicariously through the stories of veterinarian authors. Dr. McCormack does not rate up there with the James Herriot stories, but I still enjoyed his reminiscenses of his early days as a vet in rural Alabama.
April 6, 2008
This is actually a rather nice, relaxing book--the equivalent of a hot chocolate on a rainy day. Nothing beats James Herriot (in my opinion) but this isn't half bad and has a writing style similar to Herriot's wry sense of humour.
February 20, 2008
An entertaining read in the same vein as the James Herriot books. A young vet starts a practice in rural Alabama in the early '60's his experiences are often comical.
November 9, 2010
In the style of James Herriot, but the setting is rural Alabama
February 25, 2011
Like James Herriot transplanted to Alabama!
January 15, 2012
It's very kind book. It's not a Herriot, but it's very onest book. Thanks for a peace of kind and goodness!
May 10, 2012
I read this book several years ago. Growing up in rural Alabama myself, I could relate to a lot of his stories. It is an incredibly funny book with warm stories, too.
February 6, 2015
I was surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. There is a lot of information about the animals the vet treats, but also a lot about a slice of America in the early 1960's. Worth the read!
July 11, 2015
I loved this book. I've read it several times and find it funny and smart and close to practicing medicine in the rural south 25 years later. All I can say is Thank goodness for cell phones!
August 7, 2012
Loved this book. It was so easy to relate to his adventures!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews