Service and faith have always been part of my life. Whether through military service, working in agriculture, church leadership, coaching youth, or serving on local boards, I’ve tried to step up when there was work to be done.
Each role has shaped how I approach leadership and responsibility. Public office is another way to serve, and I approach it with the same mindset.
Growing Up in Turner County
I was raised as the son of a farmer in Turner County. Like many families here, we learned early the value of hard work, responsibility, and treating people with respect.
My faith also played a role in shaping those values and reinforcing the importance of serving others and doing what’s right.
Those lessons have stayed with me.
Military Service
I served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, including multiple deployments. Those years taught me the importance of leadership, teamwork, and accountability.
I carry those attributes with me in public service.
Life Back Home
After retiring from the Marines, I returned home to South Dakota.
Today, I operate a diversified grain and livestock farm with my family, serve on agriculture boards, and coach youth in my community.
Coaching keeps me connected with young people and their families —helping me to understand what matters most to local communities.
I currently represent District 16 in the South Dakota House and serve on the Agriculture & Natural Resources, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs committees.
I make sure the work I do in Pierre reflects what I hear back home.
Family
My wife and I live between Centerville and Beresford with our four kids. Family, church, school activities, sports, and community events shape our daily life.
That perspective keeps me grounded in the decisions I make as a representative.
Appointed to Serve, Committed to Lead
I was appointed to serve District 16 following the passing of Representative Richard Vasgaard in 2025—a man whose faith, leadership, and commitment to public service shaped my life from a young age. Rich believed in serving others with humility and conviction, and his example helped lead me down this path.
When I was sworn in by Governor Larry Rhoden, I used Rich’s Bible—a Bible worn thin and held together with duct tape from years of faithful use. It was a meaningful reminder of the values that guided his life and the responsibility of this office.
I accepted this role to honor Rich’s legacy, to serve this community with integrity, and to help lead a new generation forward—grounded in faith, respect for the office, and a commitment to doing what’s right for District 16.
I carry that responsibility forward in faith, honoring the legacy entrusted to me, and working to serve District 16 today and into the future.
Why I Serve
Everything I've done—farming, military service, coaching, church leadership, serving on boards, and representing District 16—comes back to the same goal: doing right by the people who live here.
The issues we face deserve practical, thoughtful leadership grounded in real experience.
You can read more about where I stand and what I’m working on.