Supporting and serving her community is deeply rooted in Melissa's character. After watching her father serve a small farming town in Utah as a police officer for 22 years and an intermediate EMT for 15 years, giving back to the community became a passion for her. Melissa’s father embodied what it truly means to be a hero. His influence has pushed her to be the best version of herself in every aspect of her life. She prides herself on being a mother, wife, farmer, business owner, and community leader. She is the right choice to represent Idaho Legislative District 23 as its Representative.
Growing up, Melissa’s first job was moving irrigation pipes at the farm she grew up next to, and her love affair for agriculture was born there. This passion connected her with a young man named Neil, a fourth-generation farmer of the "Big D Ranch." They would marry each other and now operate 300 acres of their own in the Kuna area. They are proud that their four children, two boys and two girls, ages 15, 13, 9, and 3, get to experience farm life and learn work ethic and values from the ag community.
Melissa has always believed in being a person that helps improve the lives of others in her community. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Boise State University and later received a Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education from Utah State University. Melissa served the Young Farmer and Rancher program at the local, state, and national levels and now donates to the Kuna FFA scholarship program to grow the ag community. She is passionate about the education of Idaho's children and is active in her school district, serving on committees. She played soccer in high school and was honored to share her love of the game through the Kuna PAL by coaching and serving as a committee member.
Idaho deserves legislators who genuinely care about Idahoans. Every vote that Melissa casts will be for the people she represents. She is the only choice to serve the Idahoans of District 23.
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