Funk was raised in Duvall, Washington where he grew up working on a family-owned dairy farm. The dairy is what started his love for farming and livestock. However, when he tried purchasing the dairy, his family encouraged him to attend college and pursue a career off the farm. Following college, Funk started at ACME Personnel, a Washington-based staffing company where he was then transferred to Oklahoma. During his time in Oklahoma, his love for cattle persisted as he purchased his first herd in the late ‘80s. Fast forward to 1996, Funk and Jarold Callahan purchased their first Angus herd which impacted the trajectory of Express Ranches. Twenty-five years later, Funk has built one of the largest seedstock operations in the United States while simultaneously being involved in all other facets of the beef production business. Beyond the cattle business, Funk strongly believes in the next generation of agriculturists. This prompted the creation of the Express Scholarship Program where over three million dollars have been awarded to America’s youth.