Owner of Lucky Nickel Ranch certified organic produce established in 1998 and co-owner of The McKenzie Inn Bed and Breakfast in Eloy, Arizona. Lucky Nickel Ranch was developed and built as an incubator farm to train and equip other students and veterans in the unique business of organic farming, sustainability, and niche market sales.
After leaving the Marine Corp as an aircraft mechanic Michael has worked for McDonnell Douglas as a repair and modification services mechanic (RAMS )on the C-17 Globemaster III program, Intel Corporation as a manufacturing technician as well as running his own business repairing large scale machines. Michael left Intel when the farming business turned from dream to reality in 2009. Today he farms 32 acres of organic produce, partners with University of Arizona Extension office to teach in the Master Farmer Program and is working on a book about farming in the Sonoran desert to be published next year. He hopes to diversify into animal production, fruit tree production and to build veteran housing for on site interns.
