Francis Thicke has been an organic farmer for over 30 years and currently operates a certified 80-cow dairy in Fairfield, Iowa. He earned a Ph.D. in Agronomy/​Soil Fertility from the University of Illinois in 1988 and a Master’s degree in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota in 1984. Formally a soil scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thicke has been active in numerous organic and environmental organizations including the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission, the Leopold Group, Sierra Club in Southeast Iowa, Food Democracy Now, the Organic Farming Research Foundation and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service.