For 37 years, Dave worked as a design engineer for John Deere, primarily designing and testing planters used in Illinois and around the world. During that same timespan, Dave has been a farmer in western Illinois with his wife, Beth. They started farming in 1984, raising a few hundred head of hogs and growing to a 2000-acre corn and soybean operation. Prior to his retirement and return to the farm full-time, Dave and Beth purchased a farmer’s co-op grain elevator and refurbished it. In addition, they repurposed its old feed room and my wife opened a quilt shop called Feed Mill Fabric and Quilting. After his retirement, Dave became a dealer for Precision Planting in order to remain in touch with the latest ag technology.

In addition to working for John Deere and co-managing our farm, Dave also served on several committees and boards in western Illinois. For 16 years, Dave served as the Copley township clerk and/or supervisor. Over the years, Dave served on the Knox County Cooperative Extension foundation board, the Blackhawk East Ag Alumni board, and Faith Lutheran Church Council and Treasurer. Recently, he was appointed to the Black Hawk College East foundation board. After being introduced at the Corn Growers board meeting in August 2016, Dave is excited about the direction in which the IGCA is headed and hopes to continue that progress in the coming years.