Steve Mickelson was three when he started singing in public. Known as "The Mickelson Five," he, his sister and three brothers sang at funerals, church events, community events and Farm Bureau meetings around Storm Lake where his family family farmed. His mother taught them show tunes, hymns and gospel music. Today Mickelson ('82 agricultural engineering, '84 MS, '91 PhD) tours with a professional gospel group when he's not busy in the classroom or chairing the agricultural and biosystems engineering department. He has been singing with "Higher Power" for about 16 years at churches and community events around the Midwest.