Personal Background

• Lifelong roots in Olmsted County

• Raised on family dairy farm in High Forest Township

• Married to Lisa Behnken of Haverhill Township

• Six brothers and four sisters

• Cancer Survivor

• Avid High School wrestling fan!

Community Involvement

• Lifelong member of St. Bridget’s Church, Simpson

• Member of Farm Bureau

• Member and past president of SE MN Agriculture Alliance

• Past CPR instructor for American Red Cross

• Volunteer instructor for Ag in the Classroom

• Former member, 21st Century Partnership Task Force for Olmsted County

Work and Business Experience

• Owner and operator of the family farm since 1979

• Award winning dairy farm (production and milk quality)

• Elected to the High Forest Township Board in 1987

• Elected to the Olmsted County Board in 1990

• Served in the Minnesota House from 1996 to 2004

• Chair, House Transportation Finance Committee, 2002 to 2004

Education

• Graduate of Stewartville HS

• Graduate of Rochester Community College

• University of Wisconsin at River Falls