Born: April 4, 1988, in Lawrence

Family: Parents, Joe and Peggy Pistora, rural Linwood; and sister, younger sister, Ali, who is a physical therapist in Billings, Mont.

Occupation: Environmental lobbyist for the Kansas Sierra Club at the Statehouse.

Dream job as a child: In fifth grade, Pistora gave a speech about becoming mayor. Technically he has ventured into the political realm.

“I really enjoy what i’m doing right now,” Pistora said.

Interesting fact: Pistora was born at Lawrence Memorial Hospital the same night the Kansas University men’s basketball won the national championship at Kemper Arena. His favorite sport happens to be basketball.

Digging deeper: A 2006 Tonganoxie High School graduate, Pistora was student body president for two years and participated in debate, forensics, golf, basketball and cross country.

He then attended Kansas State University where he earned a bachelor’s in political science and minors in nonprofit leadership and women’s studies in 2011. While at KSU, he was part of Students for Environmental Action and started game day recycling for K-State sports, particularly football.

After college, he worked for the Lawrence Journal-World for its Buy Local Give Back Campaign and for a graphics company before starting lobbying in 2012.

In January, he helped start the organization MPact, which is short for Millennial Pact. It’s a nonpartisan, nonprofit group “aimed at involving and representing young people in democracy,” Pistora said.

The group encourages people ages 18-29 to get involved in voting and in politics.

“It’s AARP for young people,” Pistora said.

Pistora, who lives in rural Linwood, hopes to one day continue the family business of farming. For now, he makes salsa and other foods from his garden yield thanks to 43 tomato plants.

“I really am thankful for the education and community support,” Pistora said of growing up in Tonganoxie. “I had a great time and still brag about Tonganoxie everywhere i go.”