He began managing his family farm, Locust Hill Farm, in 2007. Locust Hill Farm grows a wide variety of products. They are an Angus and Hereford cattle seedstock producer and sell bulls nationwide. They produce high quality forages for his grandmother’s horse operation and produce high quality grain. Fields of corn and soybeans are a common view along with pastures filled with the animals both Michael and his wife love.

After having met Rebecca while she was the Virginia Angus Association’s Executive Director, it became abundantly clear they had more in common than just a love of cattle. Rebecca and Michael were married in 2011 and little William came into the world about 10 months later.

Michael and Rebecca are also co-owners of Black Locust Livestock Marketing and Consulting; a part time business that works to help other livestock producers market their livestock and develop strategies in today’s competitive environment.

Michael has many ties to the agricultural community and the community at large. His great grandfather came to Virginia in the early 30s and his family has been active in the community ever since. Michael sits on the Fauquier County Farm Bureau Board and is also on the board of the Fauquier Livestock Exchange, which is only fitting as his grandfather was an original stock holder.

Michael and his family have strong ties to the environment and conservation. Being a farmer, Michael believes we must treat the land with respect. Michael has led by example as Locust Hill Farm was awarded the Conservation Farm Award in 2010 by John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District of which Michael is now an Associate Board member. Michael also now serves on the Board of Directors for Resources First Foundation. RFF develops portfolios of national, state, regional, and programmatic problem-solving web tools to address the needs of rural America in a free market format. In the past years, RFF has built ten websites to support the conservation needs of the private landowner.

Michael is a leader in the community and was asked to run in 2011 for the Virginia House of Delegates. Michael won his election that November and has been leader for his community ever since. He is a co-founder of the Business Development Caucus and has helped give small business people across Virginia a voice in Richmond.