I was born and raised in Fulton County, Pennsylvania on a livestock and crops operation. An eighth generation agricultural purveyor with French and American Indian roots, my family arrived in Manhattan in the 1600's after leaving Holland where they escaped persecution in France during the crusades. Following my love of agriculture I attend Penn State University and earned a degree in Animal Science. Upon graduation I pursued a dream of showing and training horses for a few years across the Eastern portion of the United States. Following my horse adventure I worked as an assistant agricultural extension agent, and then an ag teacher and FFA advisor at the local high school. Finally, I found my niche with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service where i worked for over 30 years before retiring. I served in many capacities as an employee of the USDA. I started out as an agricultural conservation technician, then moved into a soil conservationist position writing conservation plans, a District Conservationist at the county level, a State Grassland Conservationist, the Northeastern Grazing Specialist, and then a State Resource Conservationist.
Upon retiring I came back home to manage our livestock grazing operation and started a small consulting business. My consulting business is focused on assisting private landowners with managing their natural resources, especially the grasslands. I incorporate wildlife management into my grassland management plans focusing on pollinators and the ground nesting birds of the northeastern United States
Currently, I serve as the President of the Pennsylvania Livestock Association, I am the secretary of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation, a director and chair of the sponsorship committee for the Fulton County Fair Association. I have been appointed by the USDA Secretary of Agriculture to serve as one of two directors representing Pennsylvania on the Beef Checkoff Board (The Cattlemen's Beef Board). I also serve as a technical advisor to the Pennsylvania Beef Council. I am a past 4-H and FFA advisor and still support both organizations heavily. They are the future of agriculture in the United States.
I was named as the Penn State University Distinguished Alumnus for the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, was inducted into the Pennsylvania Livestock Association Hall of Fame, was named the Grassland Conservationist of the year for the USDA NRCS, was selected as the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council outstanding forage specialist, and was selected into the Penn State Stockmen's Club Booster Club.