Dr. Dicks served on the faculty of Oklahoma State University for 24 years as Director of International Trade and Development and the Great Plains Agricultural Policy Center. He has assisted farm and commodity groups, environmental groups, federal and state agencies, and Congress and foreign governments in developing food and ag policy and community development. He currently owns several businesses including a bed and breakfast, consulting firms, and a real estate firm. Dr. Dicks earned a BS in biochemistry and animal science from California Polytechnic State University, and MS and Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri. He has authored over 430 books, book chapters, journal articles, Congressional testimonies, and papers.