He was director of the Zürich Farmers' Association from 1994 to 2008, and was president of the Swiss Vegetable Farmers' Association and the Farmers' Machinery Association (Maschinenring) until his election to the Federal Council.
Ia menjadi direktur Asosiasi Petani Zürich sejak tahun 1994 hingga 2008 dan presiden Asosiasi Petani Sayur Swiss dan Asosiasi Permesinan Petani (Maschinenring) hingga pemilihannya untuk kursi Dewan Federal.