Mike grew up on a farm between Canby and Ivanhoe, where he spent a lot of time outside and was the lucky recipient of more than one trip to the emergency room! He went to Lincoln HI High School, then Southwest Minnesota State University where he met his wife, Becky. Ask him sometime how he got her to “fall” for him!

Becky and Mike have very little free time because they are always spending it watching their kids do all the things they love to do – basketball, volleyball, football, dance, track, band, school plays and more. The Panka family is also active in their church, and Mike is currently on the parish finance council as well. He loves sports, so he tries to take the kids fishing or golfing when possible and cheers for all the Minnesota sports teams whenever he can. Mike does not golf a lot, but he has a great collection of golf pants that he uses to help take the attention off his game!