Rick Fasching has been involved in public speaking since 1991, the year he decided that making a difference in someone’s life through communication was vastly important to him. Rick joined Toastmasters in Baker City, Oregon, where he started a club so that he could improve his skills as a communicator and leader. In 1992 he moved to Bozeman and joined the Gallatin Valley TM Club. Rick entered competition in 1999 for the first time and proceeded on to Regional competition in the International Speech Contest where he placed 1st runner up. Since then Rick has served as a club officer every year and belongs to three Bozeman clubs. He served as District 78 Governor in 2004-2005.
As a life-long learner, Rick completed his B.S. Degree in Agriculture and Math from North Dakota State University, completed his M.S. Degree in Agronomy at Montana State University, is a Certified Crop Advisor, and is currently serving on a development team that is writing an international curriculum for salinity control. He has maintained a 25-year career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as an Agronomist and his work has taken him to positions located in North Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon, and currently, Montana.
A 14-year member of Toastmasters, Rick gives credit to the organization for enabling him to take on a variety of challenges including leadership, public speaking and the potential to touch people’s hearts and minds through effective communication.