I grew up on a century farm near Kiron that has been in my family since 1871. I am intensely proud of that and I want to see the land stay productive and healthy. I have led numerous work crews, students, and volunteer groups in ecological restoration activities throughout Iowa and in various locations across the nation. I gained substantial experience in wildland firefighting as an Americorps volunteer in the San Bernardino mountain range in Southern California. Recently, I have been assisting with all aspects of operations at my family’s farm. As part of our own conservation efforts, I have been overseeing a project to create buffer strips using native prairie in fields and riparian zones on our land. My professional and academic experiences have also given me expertise in a wide variety of skills, including the operation of heavy equipment, chainsaws, and power tools; chemical application; vehicle and equipment maintenance; and proficiency in geographic information systems, as well as various spreadsheet and database programs. Above all, I am both knowledgeable and passionate about production agriculture and natural resource conservation in Iowa.
