BRINGING MINNESOTA COMMON SENSE TO WASHINGTON
As a fourth-generation Brown County farmer, he learned early on that agriculture is the backbone of the American economy. He didn’t just inherit a farm; he studied the science and community behind it, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education with an emphasis in Rural Leadership Development from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He began as an Area Director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau, where he worked directly with real people in actual agricultural production.
The most important alliance of Brad’s life didn’t happen in a boardroom. It happened on a school bus in the second grade, where he first met his future wife, Jaclyn (“Jackie”).
Today, Brad and Jackie are the proud parents of seven children. As a fourth-generation farmer raising the fifth generation, Brad’s political philosophy is deeply anchored in his kitchen table. He and Jackie operate an agricultural business in New Ulm, working alongside extended family members to keep their generational family farm thriving. For Brad, creating safe neighborhoods, strong schools, and abundant opportunities isn’t a political talking point; it is a necessity for his own seven kids.
Brad’s career is a blueprint of rural advocacy. He began as an Area Director for the Minnesota Farm Bureau and served as an agricultural policy advisor to U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy.
In 2002, his community sent him to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he served three terms (2003–2009) fighting for rural interests on statewide agricultural committees. He later took the helm as the CEO and President of the Center for Rural Policy and Development, and served as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.
In 2017, President Donald Trump recognized Brad’s relentless advocacy and appointed him as the State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota. In this role, he delivered actual results: expanding high-speed internet, supporting rural manufacturing, improving healthcare access, and driving business development across rural Minnesota.
When Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District seat opened following the passing of Congressman Jim Hagedorn, Brad stepped into the arena. He won the special election on August 9, 2022, and was sworn into Congress three days later with his family by his side.
Brad ran on a simple premise: Washington, D.C. sorely needs Midwestern common sense. He rejects the D.C. culture of “going viral” and chasing 30-second soundbites, focusing instead on delivering tangible relief driving down costs for working families facing record-high inflation. He currently serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, House Committee on Small Business, and the House Armed Services Committee, ensuring that rural communities always have a seat at the table.
