I was raised on a small farm in Illinois. My wife, Eileen and I and family have worked together hand and hand on this farm (and adjoining land we bought) since 1966 making most all the land and building improvements. I attended and graduated from Alleman Highschool (1965), Rock Island, IL., Blackhawk College, Moline, IL., University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree (Cum Laude) in Agricultural Engineering in 1970. I worked as a registered Professional Engineer for the Rock Island District, US Army Corps of Engineers for 33 years, before retiring. I held several supervisory positions while at Corps: Chief, Regulatory Branch, Assistant Chief of Operations Division, Chief of the Lock and Dam Branch, and Mississippi River Project Manager. My wife and I have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren. We have businesses associated with farming, "live edge" furniture making, vegetable produce, and graphics. We enjoy pursuing our hobby interests.