Keith has been involved in agriculture since the early 1970s, beginning with FFA in high school. His career has spanned agronomy, grain marketing, storage and handling, the feed business, birdseed processing, seed production, and sunflower and nutmeat processing for human consumption. Keith holds a BS in Zoology (1975) and an MS in Agricultural Economics (1977), both from North Dakota State University, where he was recognized as the Outstanding Ag Economics Graduate Student. He currently serves as President and GM of Proseed, a board member of the Arthur Companies, a board member of Pergena, and is a managing partner of Peltier Farms Partnership and KACA Farms, while also owning and share-renting land raising corn and soybeans in Cass and Traill Counties.

Keith has earned significant recognition throughout his career, including being named one of the Five Outstanding Young North Dakotans and receiving the Greater North Dakota Association's Outstanding Agriculturist award. He has held leadership roles across a broad range of agricultural organizations, including Chairman of AgGrow Oils, Chairman of Oilseed Growers, Vice-Chairman of Oilseed Partners, and service on the Federal Grain Inspection Service advisory board and the Agriculture Advisory Board for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. He has also served as Past Chair of the Northern Crops Institute and held leadership positions with the NDSU Development Foundation, APUC, SBARE, and the North Dakota Ag Association.

Keith is equally committed to public service and community investment. He has contributed time and leadership to First Lutheran Church Council, Harvey City Council, Wells County Better Grain and Seed, and the North Central Experiment Station Advisory Committee, among others. He believes agriculture is North Dakota's leading economic engine and that ongoing investment in research and all industry sectors is essential to ensuring its continued growth and competitiveness.