Since I was just 6 months old, I have always been surrounded by heavy equipment.
My grandfather, who ran a dozer and managed a family farm his whole life, exposed me to this world from a young age.
There are pictures of me as a child playing in the cab of D7s and other machines.
Growing up, I was captivated by dirt work and was fortunate to be part of a family deeply connected to civil construction.
Luckily, my parents understood that college wasn't the path for me and supported my passion for the industry.
My stepdad taught me that there's more to dirt work than just cool equipment and moving dirt; he showed me the importance of why you're moving dirt throughout a project
I've been fortunate to have incredible mentors and foremen who've given me amazing opportunities and lessons, both professionally and personally.
As for inspiring others to feel the same passion I have for the dirt world, I'm not quite sure.
Having been raised around earthwork, it holds a special place in my heart, and that's probably why I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else.
For those considering switching trades due to limited machine time, I encourage you to stick with it.
Keep pushing forward because if you truly want it, everything will be worth it in the end.