A graduate of Galva High School (Class of 1988), Jim earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois in May 1992. He began his career in agricultural retail, working with Crop Production Services in both Viola and Galesburg, Illinois, where he gained over a decade of hands-on industry experience from 1992 to 2003.
In 2004, he co-founded North-And Co. Risk Management alongside his brother-in-law, David North. Together, they built the business for 20 years before successfully selling it to Porter-Hay Insurance in 2024.
Jim resides on his family farm in rural Altona, Illinois, with his wife, Donna, where he continues to value strong community ties and a deep connection to agriculture.