Joe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Montana and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wyoming. He is currently a professor of Economics at Oregon State University. He has authored many papers on economics and its impact on agricultural and environmental issues. Joe comes from a multi-generational family home on the Missouri river with special knowledge and expertise on plants and streambank matters along the Upper Missouri Watershed and he is the point person on the UMOWA Board for these issues.