Ralph grew up on a grain farm in the Kane / Lowe Farm area of southern Manitoba. He graduated from Steinbach Bible College and moved to Winnipeg were he worked for ten years as an aircraft service person and served as shop steward and later as local Union President representing International Association of Machinists.
Ralph took over the family farm with his brother Tim and operated it until 2005. During his farming career, he completed his Agriculture Diploma studies at the University of Manitoba. Local municipal politics provided an opportunity to serve the residents of the RM of Morris and Ralph was elected to RM of Morris council in 1995 and now is the Reeve of the Municipality. He has also served on the Association of Manitoba Municipalities board of directors for past 14 years and is now the President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities.
