After graduating from Wood River, I attended college at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln where I participated and lettered on the football team during the 1986-1987 school year. A single year on the football team showed me that I could either play football and attend college, or really focus on academics and maintain my GPA to my standards. I chose the latter and hung up my cleats after just one year on the football team. I finished my degree in Mathematics and Physics Education and graduated with honors in May 1991. It was then that I returned to the farm to join the operation with my Dad.
I'm currently serving in my 2nd year of my first term as a board member for Wood River. I've learned a great deal during my tenure and I know I have much more to learn because school systems differ greatly from the private business enterprise world with which I've become very familiar by serving on many boards of directors. I ran for the board of education with the goal of continuing to provide the highest quality education for all of Wood River's children while helping to allocate our tax revenues in the best way possible.
I currently farm and raise pigs with my wife, Becky, and our family South of Wood River. I met Becky, who grew up in Burwell, NE, at a Loup-Platte conference honor band symposium and fell in love on the spot!!! Together, we raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and prairie hay on our farm and have a 200 sow farrow to finish hog operation which keeps us busy and also well fed! All five of my kids are employed at least to some degree helping on the farm and with the pigs as much as their hectic schedules will allow. Several of them are also gainfully employed away from the family business.
My one true and overreaching passion in my life is to share and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every relationship, activity, and situation I am involved in. My faith permeates my life, and it is who I am. Becky and all five of my kids all share this same passion whether it's through leading Bible studies, teaching FCA, regular church attendance, or through leading youth groups.
I feel honored to be able to serve this school district and this community on the Board of Education. Wood River has a wonderful staff including several excellent administrators, an awesome core group of dedicated teachers, paras, aides, custodians, cooks, technology coordinators, psychologists, etc... Wood River is a wonderful community in which to raise a family. Wood River has a great school system to educate our children. I want WRRSD to continue to build on its solid and storied tradition of excellence for many years to come!!