Dr Didi Claassen discovered her calling when she was 12 years old. Veterinary science and pathology was where she found her joy and today, she’s the head of pathology at Afrivet. In this edition, we share more about her family life, what drives her work, and some inspiration for others hoping to follow in her footsteps.
Although born and bred in Gauteng, Claassen says she developed her passion for agriculture in the rural corners of the Free State.
“You appreciate where food comes from and you know what is happening. It is not just something you buy from the store. [There is so much] heart and soul that goes into agriculture. My dad and my grandfather were very fond of animals, and since I can remember, I wanted to work with animals,” she explains in the podcast episode.
Career choice and highlights
At the age of 12, her mother exposed her to as many career choices as possible and one of them was being a veterinarian.
“When I was 12 years old, [Mom] took me to a practice in Bloemfontein to go and work there during holidays. I shadowed the vets there and absolutely fell In love,” she shares.
Deciding on which career path to take might have been easy, but becoming a professional veterinarian was far from easy, she tells Food For Mzansi.
“Becoming a veterinarian is quite a tedious process and the selection procedure is quite intense. Most people you meet at some point in their lives considered becoming a veterinarian,” she says.
In this episode, Claassen also discusses:
- Career highlights; and
- Challenges she faced as a woman in agriculture.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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