Founders

Bill Salier took the Iowa political scene by surprise when the then-unknown hog farmer and former Marine ran a true grassroots campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2002. Salier garnered 42 percent of the vote in the Republican primary against then-Congressman Greg Ganske. A native of Nora Springs, Iowa, Salier served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than four years, completing a tour of duty in Somalia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business in 1995 from Iowa State University. Bill Salier and his wife, Karla, operate the family farm near Nora Springs with a farrow-to-feeder-pig operation and corn and soybean crops.

Kitty Rehberg was elected to the Iowa Senate for two four-year terms, serving as chairwoman of the Economic Growth Committee and the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as positions on several other Senate committees. She has actively worked with several political campaigns at the local, state and national levels, including Dan Quayle for President and former Congressman Jim Nussle’s successful campaign. Since leaving the Iowa Senate in 2004, Rehberg has stayed active in politics, serving as president of the Iowa Eagle Forum. Kitty and her husband, Frank, have operated a grain and livestock farm for more than 50 years near Rowley, Iowa. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Jason Hamann has long held an interest in social trends, civic education and politics. Hamann served as Woodbury County chairman for Bill Salier’s 2002 Senatorial campaign and as chairman for Cal Tyer’s Woodbury County supervisor campaign. Hamann is a 1997 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural studies. He operates a cattle-feeding and grain farm with his father and brother near Correctionville, Iowa. He is married to Julie.