Dean owns and operates Handyhills Farm, an eighth-generation bicentennial farm, as a joint venture with his brother, nephew and their wives. The family milks 120 cows and has 1,000 acres of corn, beans, alfalfa and grass for forage. Handyhills Farm has an 85,000 bushel grain drying and storage facility, its own soybean meal and oil processing equipment, and a recent sawmill acquisition. Dean serves on the local school board, plays trumpet and piano at church and is a graduate of the LeadNY program.