I was born and raised in Revillo, SD, the youngest of four boys. Growing up on my family's farm, I learned the value of hard work, determination, and perseverance. I graduated from Grant-Deuel School in Revillo and went on to serve in the South Dakota National Guard as a member of the 2/147th Field Artillery.

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After graduating from South Dakota State University, I was commissioned into the United States Air Force and spent the next nine years on active duty serving as an Air Force Intelligence Officer. While on active duty, I was stationed in Texas, Germany, and Hawaii, deploying three times in support of the Global War on Terrorism to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Southern Philippines.

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After leaving active duty, I returned to South Dakota to work on the family farm, although I continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve until retiring in 2023. With dual passions for agriculture and education, I earned a teaching certificate from SDSU and taught at Grant-Deuel for two years, while working on the family farm. With the closure of Grant-Deuel, I still substitute teach, but have refocused my professional time to my farm, ranch, and rental property business.

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In 2016, I married my Air Force sweetheart, Kimberly. We have three children aged 3 to 7 and reside in Milbank, SD. We attend Central Church in Milbank, where I teach Sunday School.

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