Desiree Wineland was born in Sweden and moved to the United States, where she became a US citizen and served in the United States Army. She earned a M.S. in International Relations from St Mary’s University, and attended studies at Georgetown University; National War College; Air University; and Harvard’s JFK School of Government while serving in the military. Desiree and her family call Cambridge, Nebraska home, where she raises grapes, operates a butcher shop, and completed the Nebraska LEAD Program, Nebraska Ranch Practicum and Cow/Calf college.