He grew up in the world of soil and water conservation districts, the local bodies where neighbors decide together how to care for the land, and went on to run their national association of nearly 3,000 communities. Today he leads Solutions from the Land, which starts from a conviction that the people working the land are the ones best positioned to solve the challenges facing it, from soil health to water quality to feeding a growing world. He and his wife love to sail, serve on the community association board, and keep up with eight grandchildren.