Tell us about yourself.
I was raised in Cambridge, Idaho, on a family cattle ranch. I had six brothers including a twin. After graduating from high school, I went off to play college football at Huron University, then to Walla Walla Community College. I met and married my wife Tanya in 1997, and we lived in the Boise area before moving to the Dallas, TX area in 2001. While in Texas, I picked up the sport of racing ATV’s. This took me to races all over Texas, into Tennessee, and even North Carolina. In 2005 we had the first of our four daughters, Natalee. In 2008 we pursued an opportunity to move back to Idaho and built our home in Weiser. In 2008 we had our twin daughters, Kaylee and Taylee, and finally in 2010, we completed our family by having our final daughter, McKinlee. While experiencing all of these personal life events, professionally I worked various jobs with different companies. RadioShack, however, was the most significant before coming to Farm Bureau. I worked at RadioShack for 13 years, holding several different positions which included my final position as store manager.

 

Why did you choose Farm Bureau?

As fate would have it, while I working as a store manager for RadioShack in Nampa, Don Pfost walked through the doors looking for help with his wireless phone and, thus, the opportunity to be an agent in Weiser was born. After completing some research on Farm Bureau, I realized it would be a perfect fit for me.

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What is your role at Farm Bureau and what aspect do you enjoy the most? As an agent, I love helping my friends and neighbors protect what’s most important to them. I also love working in an industry where I’m able to use the work ethic and knowledge I gained from ranching and the customer service skills I learned from RadioShack to help other people.

 

What has been the biggest change in the years you have worked here?

The technology over the last eight years has really changed. Evolving technologically is necessary to grow from an operational standpoint, but it seems like I was able to spend more time out in the field with my clients back when I was starting out.

 

Before working here, what was the most unusual or interesting job you had?

I would say the most interesting job was doing the hiring for RadioShack for all of Dallas when I lived there. Over the span of three years, I got to meet a lot of interesting people from all different backgrounds.

 

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

In my “spare” time you will find me officiating football and basketball in the fall and winter, camping and riding through the mountains on my Razr in the spring and summer, or trying to keep up with my yard work at home (albeit, not necessarily my favorite).

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What is your biggest pet peeve?

I really have a hard time when people can’t admit that they made a mistake. Admit it, learn from it, and move on…

 

Where is your favorite place to be?

We have a family campsite on the ranch where I grew up, so you will find me there enjoying time with family and friends.

 

Are you involved in any community service?

If so, what? Not anymore. I used to be the Republican Chairman for Washington County, but trying to balance that with a growing career and family created an extremely complicated and hectic schedule.

 

What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?

Don’t spend precious time around people who do not wish to see you succeed. The ironic thing is, my friends at 13 are still my friends today. 

 

Tell us something surprising about you.

Although I competed in sports throughout high school and college, and am actively involved as an official in football and basketball today, I don’t really watch many sporting events on TV.

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EMPLOYEE PROFILES

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