Lydia grew up on a dairy farm in Union County where they milk about 120 Holstein cattle and raise 1,200 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa. She was an 11-year 4-H member showing livestock at the fair and dancing and singing at camp. In addition, she was an FFA member at Fairbanks High School where she participated in Parliamentary Procedure and Dairy Cattle Judging career development events.

She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Animal Science, and she plans to obtain her master’s degree this spring from Ohio State.