Keeping New York’s Dairy Herds Healthy with Dr. Isaac Angell
For Dr. Isaac Angell, being a large animal veterinarian isn’t just a job, it’s a calling born from generations of connection to the land, the animals, and the people of Dutchess County.
He’s a fourth-generation farmer who grew up on Bentley Farm, surrounded by rolling pastures, family, and a deep respect for the work of agriculture. It was there, in the daily rhythms of farm life, that he first discovered his love for animals and met the hometown hero who would shape his future: Dr. Hart, the local veterinarian. Dr Hart cared for the cows, mentored young Isaac, and ignited his dream of following in his footsteps.
That dream carried him all the way to Cornell University, where he studied Animal Science as an undergrad, joined the Cornell Dairy Fellows Program, and later completed vet school and the Summer Dairy Institute. True to his word, Dr. Hart welcomed Isaac back after graduation. And by 2014, Isaac had taken the reins of the practice he grew up admiring. Today, Bentley Veterinary Practice is home to four large animal veterinarians, serving dairy, beef, equine, and exotic livestock clients across the region.
But Isaac’s work is more than medicine. It’s about building relationships—generation after generation. He recalls sitting down for lunch on a client’s farm, first with the grandmother, then the mother, then the daughter, and now with the granddaughter beside him. “For me,” he says, “that just represents what this job is all about—caring for the farm, caring for the cows, and having a relationship with the farmer.”
His approach to animal care is built on prevention, nutrition, and clean, comfortable environments for the animals. “If we have happy, healthy cows, we have a sustainable dairy farming enterprise,” Isaac explains. “We’re just part of that mission, part of that cycle in life.”
It’s a demanding life with long hours, weekend calls, and the kind of dedication that doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. But with the support of his wife, six children, and a multigenerational family that includes his parents, brothers, and his in-laws, Isaac keeps showing up with a smile. Together, they maintain a small herd of Ayrshire cattle and are working toward opening a small-scale dairy operation on their family’s land.
In every early morning visit, every emergency call, and every shared lunch at a farmer’s kitchen table, Dr. Isaac Angell is proving what many already know: care is at the heart of New York Dairy.
Watch our spotlight video on Dr. Isaac Angell here: https://youtu.be/VYDp_etD_qE