Larry Steckel was raised on a small farm near Carrollton, Illinois. He received his B.S. in agronomy in 1987 from Western Illinois University and his M.S. in Weed Science from the University of Missouri in 1989. Larry then went on to work for Pioneer Hi Bred Int. where he worked for 10 years as an Agronomist. He then left Pioneer to pursue a Ph.D in the spring of 2000. Larry received his Ph. D in 2003 from the University of Illinois. Larry joined the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee in 2003 where he holds a weed science extension (75%) and research (25%) appointment. His research focus is on the study of the biology and management of glyphosate-resistant horseweed and Palmer amaranth. These weed cause Tennessee growers the most issues in recent years and is where Dr. Steckel directs most of his research and extension efforts.