Dean is a 5th generation farmer and 2nd generation sugar beet grower. With his son Josh, they grow more than 600 acres of sugar beets. In addition, they also grow about 2000 acres of corn, soybeans, dry beans and wheat in the counties of Bay, Saginaw, and Tuscola. They also plant and harvest sugar beets for many area farmers.

He and his wife Donna are lifelong members of St. Lorenz Church and live on their family farm along with their sons Joshua, Samuel, and Simon.

Dean is active with Saginaw County Farm Bureau and has held many leadership positions over the last 35 years. He is a longtime member of the Frankenmuth Township Planning Commission, and has been the chairman for more than the last 25 years.

Dean served on the West District Board at Michigan Sugar Company for 12 years before being elected to serve on the Co-op Board of Directors in 2020. He joined the ASGA Board of Directors in 2022.