Jon Tester Information
Jon Tester (born August 21, 1956) is the junior U.S. Senator for Montana, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as President of the Montana Senate.
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Early life, education, and career
Tester was born in Havre, Montana, one of three sons of Helen Marie (Pearson) and David O. Tester.[1] Havre is also the birthplace of Jeff Ament, bassist for rock band Pearl Jam;[2] in 2005, the band played a benefit concert in Missoula in support of Tester's U.S. Senate bid.[3]
Tester grew up in Chouteau County, near the town of Big Sandy, Montana, on the land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1916.[4] At the age of 9, he lost the middle three fingers of his left hand in a meat-grinder accident.[5]
In 1978, he graduated from the University of Great Falls with a B.S. in music.[6] He then worked for two years as a music teacher in the Big Sandy School District before returning to his family's farm and custom butcher shop.[7] He and his wife continue to operate the farm; in the 1980s, they changed over from conventional to organic farming,[8] raising wheat, barley, lentils, peas, millet, buckwheat, and alfalfa.[6]
Early political career
Tester served five years as chairman of the Big Sandy School Board of Trustees and served on the Big Sandy Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Committee and the Chouteau County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Committee.
Tester was first elected t
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