I’ve been proud to call Springfield home for 39 years, but my roots in agriculture and rural life go back much further than that. I was born and raised in St. Lazare, Manitoba, the youngest of 14 children on our family dairy farm.

Growing up in a family that size, everyone had a job to do. I fed calves and chickens, picked eggs, worked in the garden and learned from a young age that hard work, responsibility and helping each other were simply part of life.

At 16, I left school to work full-time on the farm. Years later, at the age of 40, I made the decision to go back and complete my education. I’ve never been afraid of hard work, starting over or learning something new when it needed to be done.

My wife and I married when I was 21, and our early years together took us from Manitoba to Saskatchewan and eventually to Springfield, where we arrived with two young children and another on the way. We raised our four daughters here, built our life here, and this community became home.

For 37 years, I had the privilege of helping manage VanRyssel Dairy, a long-standing Springfield family farm that today continues into its fifth generation. I’ve always loved working with cattle. They taught me that patience, consistency and a calm approach usually accomplish far more than force ever will. I think those lessons apply to people and leadership too.

Today, family remains at the centre of my life. I enjoy staying productive around the yard, camping, snowmobiling, riding side-by-side and spending weekends with family and friends.

The people who know me best know me as someone who listens, observes, keeps his word and is always willing to lend a hand. After nearly four decades of living and working in Springfield, I care deeply about where our community goes from here.

Residents deserve a Councillor who listens, asks thoughtful questions, considers the long-term impact of decisions, and works constructively with the rest of council. If elected, I will bring a common-sense approach and a commitment to serving the best interests of the community. That’s why I’m running to serve as Councillor for Ward 3.