SPOTLIGHT RACE: Brad Tabke for MN-HD54A
I grew up in the small Iowa community of Moville. Situated down six dusty miles of gravel road, we raised just about everything on our farm—from cattle, hogs, sheep, and chickens to corn, beans, and hay. Like my family, classmates, and other farming families, I learned the value of putting in the effort and lending a hand. I also cultivated my fair share of grit. I was a 4H kid back then, and in many ways, I still am. I didn’t just show livestock at our county and state fairs. I grew my leadership skills, learned the meaning and value of civic engagement, had deep conversations about service, and contributed to my community.
When I started at the University of Iowa, I intended to pursue a degree in medicine. What I soon came to realize, though: It didn’t light me up. I felt the pull of an active life spent outdoors, like the one I had as a kid—and plants were a language I understood. Ultimately, that meant packing up and moving to Ames, where I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in horticulture.
I started my career in Chicago, heading up the maintenance division of a landscape architecture firm. Two years later, I headed to the Twin Cities looking for a better fit and to be closer to family. My experiences at these two companies were wildly different, and I took critical lessons with me when I started my landscape business:
The importance of ensuring my team feels respected
An understanding of what employees need out of their jobs
How to create career paths that empower people to learn and grow
Today, I help folks preserve water, support pollinators and healthy soils, and reduce the use of chemicals with native plants. Not only does my consulting work restore life to backyards—it contributes to the ecological sustainability of Minnesota.
My wife, Katy, and I married in 2001, and two years later, we bought our home in Shakopee. At the time, it backed up to a cornfield and overlooked a local baseball field. A huge baseball fan and Iowa-farm-kid-Field-of-Dreams-loving guy, I couldn't resist the view. Our city has grown by leaps and bounds since then. While the baseball field remains, we now overlook a grocery store and fire station. Today, we have two children, aged 13 and 17; a dog, Scout; and some chickens to feed my farm-life itch. Shakopee is beautifully diverse, and a community that takes care of its own. We’re proud to call this city our home.
https://tabkeformn.com/