Chad enjoys collecting Allis Chalmers tractors, and spent countless hours restoring an AC tractor for a local retired farmer, completing it just in time for the local town’s sesquicentennial parade and tractor show. Spare moments in the summer will find Chad and his family briefly relaxing at a local campground just before taking a nature hike or canoeing on a nearby river. Farming and firefighting are also two of Chad’s favorite pastimes which has led to his enormous community involvement.

Chad is a pivotal member of both the New Liberty and Bennett, IA communities. Becoming a volunteer fire fighter upon turning 18, in his home town of Lost Nation, IA, Chad has served as a volunteer fighter for 21 years, 15 years on the New Liberty fire department and the past 8 years on both the Bennett and New Liberty fire department s. He has led the New Liberty Volunteer Fire Department through many changes in his ten years as fire chief, helping to secure $250,000 worth of grants. Despite moving ½ mile out of the New Liberty Fire district 8 years ago, his fellow firefighter insisted, and he agreed to remain the chief and continue to lead the volunteer crew. He was instrumental in developing plans for, and put forth many hours of labor, building a new fire station which includes a much needed meeting room for the local community. The new station is more than five times bigger than the previous one. In addition, through fundraising and grants Chad able to secure enough money over the years to update nearly all of the trucks and fire fighting equipment, expanding the fleet from 4 trucks to 7 and allowing this rural fire department access to the same tools that much larger towns have to operate with. Firefighting in rural areas can be a challenge during the day, as most volunteers commute to jobs in neighboring metropolitan areas. Chad works in another nearby community, providing the area with advanced firefighting knowledge and the calm leadership that is needed during a hectic, often dangerous situation.

Serving as an emergency medical technician (EMT) since the age of 20, Chad is also an 11 year volunteer member of the Bennett Ambulance, again serving both communities, providing crucial daytime coverage as well as the many years of experience allowing him to remain cool, calm, and collected providing leadership and direction during tense calls. Chad has served as a volunteer township trustee for the last two years helping to disperse local tax money to various community organizations including cemeteries, fire departments, and the ambulance service.

Realizing the importance of a quality education and small class sizes, Chad is entering his 3rd year as a Bennett Community School Board member, working tirelessly to keep the local elementary school open, providing a quality education and maintaining a strong economic resource in our community. Despite his involvement in many volunteer organizations and a full schedule of meetings, Chad always has time to help a friend or neighbor in need. He is generous with his time, always willing to drop whatever he is working on to change a flat tire, help fix a piece of machinery, investigate the smell of gas in a home, or mow an injured neighbor’s yard. On snowy winter days his wife can count on “cleaning out the driveway” taking several hours as Chad drives his tractor and blade up and down the road, plowing neighbor’s driveways before they have a chance to ask or even realize who it is.

Chad is an active member at Peace Church of Christ United in Bennett, IA, a strong willing member of the “clean-up crew” during the church’s annual Turkey Supper fundraiser. Farming has long been a passion of Chad’s and despite his busy work schedule as a regional manager for a large farmer’s cooperative, he was able to realize his lifelong dream and began farming himself just two years ago. Over the past 1 ½ years as his best friend and co-worker, Dale Holtapp, has battled esophageal cancer Chad stepped up to help plant, tend to, and harvest Dale’s 450 acres of crops. During the winter he organized a crew of 30 men to secure, cut, and split wood for Dale and his wife, Kathy’s wood burning furnace.

A few months ago, as Dale’s cancer resurfaced, forcing him to resign from his job, Chad was instrumental in organizing a fundraising benefit along with the help of many other friends and family, raising money to help with living expenses, pay for medical insurance, and help defray rising medical costs. Throwing his entire heart, mind, and soul into the benefit in just 3 ½ weeks turned out to be a huge success with over 800 people in attendance and over $120,000 raised. The following week he was back at it, attending an organizational meeting at the request of another committee to offer advice for another cancer fundraising event for a local woman fighting metastatic breast cancer.

It is clear to see, Chad Petersen is everyone’s “Go to Guy”. Dedicated not only to the people in his home town, but in the small communities which now make up his home and beyond, making him an all around Good Guy.

Welcome to the club Chad!