I was born and raised in beautiful Pike County, Illinois.  This lovely place is nestled between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers in the west-central part of the state.  It's very hilly and forested (in Illinois terms).  This very rural, sparsely populated, outdoorsy place shaped my love for the outdoors.


I was also very blessed to have a great family that saw the importance of traveling the country and seeing its many beautiful sights.  We took many vacations in our van and pop-up camper, visiting many amazing places from coast to coast.


After graduating from Barry High School, I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Horticulture.  Then, I moved south to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, also majoring in Horticulture.  Finally, I returned to Champaign to complete a PhD in Crop Sciences.


Back in high school, I started dating the love of my life.  I knew she was one to hang on to, and luckily I was successful!  We married in 2007 and have been on a wonderful journey ever since.


I am an Agronomist for Waypoint Analytical, the largest agricultural laboratory network in the country.  With eight locations from coast to coast, I help out with agronomy and data issues for clients across the US.  I'm the primary agronomist for the Midwest and Western regions of the country.


I currently live in Phoenix, AZ with my wonderful wife Katie and our spoiled Decker Rat Terrier named Rex.