Animal husbandry has been one of the most rewarding lessons of my life. From a young age, my father taught me that caring for an animal is a responsibility you never take lightly. A pet depends on you completely, and that obligation is non‑negotiable.

It was my late cousin, Verna Jean, who first introduced me to horses. The gift she gave me more than sixty years ago, on the prairie of Kansas, has stayed with me ever since. That early connection to domestic animals naturally grew into a commitment to the land itself. As a landowner, I see myself as a steward of the wildlife that relies on the trees, wetlands, and grasslands for its habitat. I understand this responsibility because I have lived it, and because I was taught the right way to care for what we are entrusted with.

Today, our state legislature includes many down‑state lawmakers who have little understanding of the countryside that defines the 119th district. They draft policies that shape our environment, our wildlife, and the future of the land we call home. Protecting this ecological treasure is not just important to me — it is central to what I intend to do as your next assembly-member. I have demonstrated this commitment locally, and I will carry that same dedication to the state legislature.