About Me

I grew up on a mixed livestock and grain farm in southwest Minnesota, and attended Hills-Beaver Creek High School where I was active in athletics and FFA. I attended Dordt College for two years majoring in chemistry and transferred to the University of Minnesota where I received a BS degree in 1971.

• B.Sc. Agriculture Education University of Minnesota

I took a position with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee to do agricultural and community development work during which time I also earned a diploma from Instituto Mexicano-Nortamericano. My wife Jan and I worked in Mexico primarily in the town of Tlacolula, Oaxaca for five years. We returned to the United States in 1976 where I accepted a position to teach agriculture in Walnut Grove, MN. I accepted a position in 1977 to begin a program and teach agriculture at Dordt College. The subsequent degrees are:

• M.Sc. Agriculture, Iowa State University
• Ph.D. Agriculture Education, Iowa State University
• Master Beekeeper, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Emeritated 2018

I have taught a variety of ag department courses and courses that are part of the core program of the college. I have also served in various administrative capacities for the college. I served as the Pre-Vet advisor for the university. I have taught beekeeping courses to members of the community. I teach the following courses:

• Orientation and Ag Safety
• Introduction to Animal Science
• Principles of Swine Science
• Marketing of Agricultural Products
• Directed Study
• Culture, Missions, and Community Development in Nicaragua

I am active in the local beef and swine producers organizations, and various professional academic societies. I serve on the Animal Care and Use Committee of Trans Ova Genetics.

I have served as an advisor to various student Directed Study teams which are usually teams of three students. Examples of student projects are:

• Dust Explosion Simulator
• Examination of the Prevalence of MRSA in Northwest Iowa Swine Facilities and Farmers
• Use of Skycis in Swine Finishing Rations to Improve Rate of Gain
• Agriculture Policy in the Netherlands
• Analysis of an Alternative Self-Harvesting Feedstuff System for Swine