Kim has been married for over 30 years to Tom Skadow and they have one adult son that graduated from Ankeny Highschool and is currently a Ph.D. candidate out east.  She is originally from Wisconsin, where her dad worked a union job at the local papermill and her mom was a homemaker. Kim and her 2 siblings went to good K-12 public schools and graduated from a state university with little debt. Kim received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Soil and Crop Science and a minor in Agriculture Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She understands that the middle class was built because of unions and a strong public education system helps lift people out of poverty and is needed for a working democracy.

Kim has worked 30+ years in agriculture. She is currently retired from Pioneer Hi-bred in Johnston where she initially worked in biotech and eventually passed the patent bar to become a registered patent agent.  She wrote and prosecuted patents for the company as well as wrote and negotiated contracts concerning intellectual property.  

Over the years, Kim has spent her time being on Parent Advisory Committees, volunteering for various campaigns and environmental causes.  She is currently on the board of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, where she has been actively involved in fighting against the proposed C02 pipeline and advocating for clean water and real climate solutions.