• 5^th generation Garland County resident born in Hot Springs in 1967.
• Graduated valedictorian and all-state football player from Fountain Lake High School in 1986.
• Elected as State President of FFA and did a short internship for Senator David Pryor as part of official duty.  A highlight of the time in Washington DC was getting to see Ronald Reagan in person during a function for State FFA Presidents.
• Entered University of Arkansas at Fayetteville as a Biological and Agricultural Engineering major and a recruited walk-on football player for the Razorbacks.  Received bachelor’s degree and was a member of the football team for four years that won back-to-back Southwest Conference championships.  Most significant experience at the University of Arkansas was meeting Sharon French of Van Buren, bride of 19 years and mother of our four children, Eli, Amie, Ethan, and Asa ages 15, 12, 10, and 8.
• Began working for Riceland Foods in Stuttgart in January 1991 as plant engineer.  Moved back to Hot Springs in 1992 to work for Mid-South Engineering; a 40-year old consulting engineering firm with offices in Hot Springs and Cary, NC.  Working with Mid-South in the project planning and development group has allowed opportunities to participate in the development and implementation of multi-million dollar projects across the United States as well as work in Canada, United Kingdom, other European countries, and New Zealand.  Registered to practice engineering in seven states and foresty in two.  Served as the state president of the Arkansas Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers, in 2005 was recognized as an outstanding young alumni by the University of Arkansas College of Engineering, and in 2008 completed duties as chairman of the Arkansas Academy of Biological and Agricultural Engineers.
• Took a leave of absence from Mid-South in 2000 to attend graduate school at Yale where received a master’s degree in forestry with focus study areas in economics and finance.
• Past president of the Fountain Lake School Board where focus was on improving academic performance and helping the school with several major construction projects.
• Attend Walnut Valley Baptist Church and serve as a deacon and a youth Sunday school teacher.  Have taught youth or college age students in Sunday school since college.

THE WESTERMAN FAMILY


Sharon, Asa, Eli, Ethan, Amie, Bruce

ABOUT OUR FAMILY

Sharon is a stay-at-home mom and has been quite busy raising four children for the past 15 years.  She has a teaching degree from the University of Arkansas and with all the kids in school has been volunteering her time as a tutor.  She has a passion for teaching children to read and is currently working on a master's degree in special education with an interest in early intervention.  The kids enjoy growing up "in the country" where life is never boring.  Eli is a past National Geography Bee state champion and enjoys playing football, reading, and participating in church youth group activities.  Amie likes to cook, draw and paint, and play basketball.  Ethan likes sports of all kinds (especially the Razorbacks), and Asa likes to play, fish and help dad work around the farm.


ABOUT OUR FAITH

Even though there may be trials, opportunities, and even earthly defeats ahead, we know that "faith is the victory that overcomes the world."  Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  My ulitimate hope is in God's grace and mercy through faith in Jesus Christ.