Joan Ruskamp and her husband, Steve, farm west of Dodge, Nebraska. They grow corn, soybeans and alfalfa along with finishing cattle in a 3,500 head feedlot. On the farm, Joan's main jobs include walking pens, cattle doctoring/processing, and office manager. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Curtis, where she earned an associate degree in veterinary medicine in 1980. Joan volunteers for a variety of community organizations. Joan and Steve have five children and are expecting their twelfth grandchild in 2025.