I am from Higginsville, MO. I have grown up here my entire life. I currently am self employed helping with my families metal recycling business and selling corn and soybeans for my ag inputs sales business. I enjoy the hands on help with customers I get to partake in daily with each of these roles.

Describe your AFA experience as a student.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with AFA. I completed all 4 tracks and met some great industry partners and made some great friendships during my time with the program.

How did your AFA Student experience influence your career journey?

AFA helped cultivate my passion for agriculture and broaden my knowledge of fields in the industry. I received all my college internships through partners that I met at AFA. I have continued to stay involved with AFA and sponsor student scholars since I graduated college in 2014.

What is one AFA memory, moment or conversation that has stayed with you?

The friendships I made through AFA have stuck with me the most. I met some great people that I still stay in touch with today and communicate about business and progress in the industry.

At the time, what did AFA help you understand about yourself, your leadership style or your place in agriculture?

AFA helped me realize I enjoy being my own boss and working at the ground level to continue to help customers.

Was there a person, mentor, peer or industry professional you met through AFA who influenced your path? What impact did they have?

Garrett and Cara Riekhof helped me at the local level as well as the importance AFA leadership can have on shaping your career path. They were great community support as I was attending the tracks.

What skill, mindset or lesson from AFA has been most useful in your professional life?

The most important mindset I received was to never give up. Life with throw you curve balls but it is important to learn to adapt and overcome.

In what ways do you stay connected or involved with AFA in your professional life? Why is that important to you?

I stay involved by continuing to sponsor student scholars and promote the future leaders of AFA. This is important to me because I want to help give back to the younger generation the way I was supported when I was in school.