My name is Christian Goodman, and I am a lifelong Haverhill native. I grew up working alongside my dad on our family farm, learning early the value of hard work, responsibility, and community. After graduating from Marshalltown High School, I continued my education at Marshalltown Community College, the University of Northern Iowa, and ultimately Iowa State University, where I earned a degree in Agricultural Studies.

In 2016, I married my high school sweetheart, Cassidy, and we have lived on the farm ever since. Following college, I continued working side by side with my father, Kevin, feeding cattle and raising corn and soybeans. During the summers, I also worked with a local aviation company providing ground-side support for aerial application operations, and today I consult with new helicopter startup operations. While I am not a pilot myself, aviation has long been a personal passion of mine.

In 2019, I started my own trucking business, LXV Transport, operating as an owner-operator. Through that work, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the best in the industry hauling cattle, grain, and flatbed freight. Cassidy and I also share our home with our three-year-old Pyrenees-Lab mix, Nellie. I have two younger siblings: my brother Brennan, a veterinarian in Cedar Rapids, and my sister Quinn, an artist in Des Moines.

I was not expecting to step into this role at this time. I’ve always enjoyed thoughtful political discussion, but public office was not part of my short-term plans. My dad’s time serving as supervisor exposed me to local government in a very personal way. We talked often about what was happening in the county, how things worked, and the concerns he and others had. I enjoyed those conversations and the perspective they gave me.

I also watched how my father approached the position. People trusted him and enjoyed working with him. On more than a few occasions, neighbors would contact me with supervisor-related questions and ask that I pass them along. I joked that I was his personal secretary, and honestly, I enjoyed being part of the process.

After my father passed last month, I realized this would be a pivotal moment in my life. I had not planned to apply until a comment made in passing by a friend at the funeral lit a spark, and motivated me to apply. The nature of my past work meant I had never written a resume or gone through a formal interview, so I prepared diligently for the process. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and for the overwhelming support our family has received from this community.

As for what I hope to achieve, I come to this role with humility and an open mind. My goal is steady, effective local government. I am committed to learning the position thoroughly and listening carefully before making decisions. I don’t come with a pointed agenda or all the answers, but I do bring a problem-solving mindset and a respect for the responsibility of managing taxpayer dollars. I believe we can work to keep property taxes in check while ensuring our county departments have the resources they need to operate effectively. I look forward to earning the trust of the community as I continue learning, listening, and serving.

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Christian Goodman, a Republican from Haverhill, is the

newest member of the Marshall County Board of Supervisors.