Jon Tester is a U.S. Senator from Montana. He defeated incumbent Republican Conrad Burns in 2006.
An organic farmer, owner of a butcher shop, and former Montana state legislator. Tester is a man close to the earth raised on the same family-owned farm (over 1,000 acres) that his grandfather homesteaded in 1916 and has never made more than $30,000 a year.
When he came to Washington from Big Sandy (population 710) he brought with him 50 pounds of organic beef and pork that he slaughtered himself.
- John Tester graduated from the College of Great Falls in 1978 with a degree in music (he played the trumpet), and in addition to his other occupations, Tester has worked as a music teacher for Big Sandy Public Schools.
- While farming, Tester often went up to two weeks at a time without seeing another human being save for his wife Sharla.[1]
- The Tester family now grows organic wheat, barley, lentils, peas, millet, buckwheat, alfalfa and hay.[2]
- Tester played a major role in the development of the Judith Gap Wind Farm
links
- http://www.newwest.net/index.php/city/article/the_why_behind_the_tester_win/C8/L8/
- http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=7034984&nav=menu227_3 article about finanical aid for organic farmers!
- http://lifeonterra.com/archive.php
- [3]