Even as a young farmer, Phil was never afraid to take a stance.

Phil was the fifth generation to be raised on the family farm in Mt. Hope Township. He is the fourth of five children to grow up on the farm. As a youngster, Phil was involved in 4-H, FFA, his church, and helping out on the farm. It was a place where neighbors helped neighbors, and when people asked how you were doing, they waited for the answer. Everybody worked together for the good of the whole. A strong sense of community was instilled at a young age, and Phil still carries those lessons with him today. Throughout school, Phil was involved in sports, public speaking, and was President of his FFA chapter and Class Treasurer. He then headed north to UW-River Falls to study ag communications with the goal of becoming a farm radio broadcaster. He also went to auctioneering school, and attended a communications school in Madison before embarking on his farm radio career. His radio career took him to Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and back to the Tri-State area, where he is today. His radio career saw him cover events at the White House, USDA, United States Congress, foreign embassies, and at the state capitols in numerous states. But his real strength is communicating directly to the local listeners, and getting out in the communities to talk about the important things. And that is what will make him a great legislator. He is married and currently resides in Dickeyville.