Barb grew up on a diversified farm in west central Illinois where she was active in 4-H and then attended the University of Illinois where she majored in Ag Communications. Her career includes farming, livestock publication experience, animal health sales, and small business ownership.

After college Barb worked in Omaha and Kansas City before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to begin her animal health sales career. While working with dairy farmers and pork producers throughout Iowa, Barb met her future husband at a pork industry trade show. They were married in September 1981 and Barb dove head-first into being a farm wife.

In addition to farming and her work at Heartland Marketing Group, Barb served on the National Pork Producers Council Board of Directors and was President of the organization in 2001-2002. She has served on numerous committees and task forces for both NPPC and National Pork Board. Barb was chosen to serve on the United States Animal Health Association Executive Committee and was president of the organization in 2018. She was also nominated by Iowa’s governor to serve on the Iowa Great Places Advisory Board and was named chairman in 2022. She completed six years on the Iowa 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees, serving as Chairman in 2012. In February 2024, Barb and Steve were honored with the Foundation’s Outstanding Individual Supporters Award.

Barb and Steve continue to farm and are the parents of three grown children: Andy (wife, Sally), Dan, and Kourtney. They are also grandparents of Lucy, Archie, and Eli. Together they are leaders of the Early Achievers 4-H Club and active members of the Early United Methodist Church.