 He has been a self-employed farmer for thirty years.He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a past county president of the Farm Bureau, past chair of the Livingston County Soil & Water Board, a board member of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri Soybean Association, Show-Me Quality Grain, the Chillichothe Chamber of Commerce, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Rifle Association.He was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in a special election in 2001, winning reelection in 2002 and 2004.