In the early years of my childhood, I was raised in a single-parent household by my Mother. A proud product of public education, I attended Viroqua Area Schools. I spent weekends and summers on my grandparents' farm and often tagged along on the milk route with my uncles and Grandfather, where I experienced firsthand family farmers' work ethic and resiliency. I grew up learning the true sense of community. I give credit to all the kind and caring mentors from my family, neighbors, school, jobs, etc., for helping guide me through my adolescence and shaping the person I am today. I graduated from UW La Crosse, where, as a college student, I started my first cleaning service business while working with youth at the Boys & Girls Club in Tomah and bartending part-time on the weekends.