Shane Dennis may be 8,500 miles from his birthplace, but he's right at home in Jasper, Minnesota. Born in Queensland, Australia, Shane grew up in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where he read a lot of books, played a lot of rugby, and (tried) to date a lot of girls. Papua New Guinea sure sounds exotic to most Minnesotans, but Shane's dreams were simple and downright “Midwestern”—from an early age he set his sights on one day living a farmer's life.

In 2000, Shane fell in love with Jasper, Minnesota—the landscape, the town, and the wind—and decided to put down roots. He shares his hobby farm with his wife Mary, a social worker, his daughters Ruby and Darla, and son Franklin. Still an avid reader, Shane spends most of his free time sailing or swimming, or taking a long nap—preferably on the floor.