Jim was born and raised on his family’s farm in central Illinois. After earning a BS from Illinois State University, he worked in the farm supply business in Wisconsin before moving to Michigan in 1999 to accept a position as the Crops Agent for Michigan State University Extension. He helped facilitate discussions for Michigan Corn Processors that eventually led to the state’s first ethanol facility in Caro, Michigan and then helped co-found and manage the ethanol facility in Woodbury. Jim and his wife Carol currently live in Mason.