Jon is a native of Wisconsin where he grew up on a dairy farm. He earned degrees in chemistry and soil science and a post-graduate certification in geographic information science. He was a conservationist, agronomist, soil scientist and soil health instructor with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, retiring in 2015.

Jon is currently a part time professional at the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research and Extension Center, free-lance writer and environmental consultant. Jon is the author of “A Soil Owner’s Manual: How To Restore and Maintain Soil Health” published in April of 2016.