Aislinn Kottwitz grew up in the farming community of Rocky Ford, Colorado.  Her mom and dad were ranchers and farmers, raising cattle and growing melons.  “The best—the very best—watermelons and cantaloupes are grown in Rocky Ford,” says Kottwitz.  In addition, her dad was mayor of Rocky Ford.  Both her mom and dad are now small business owners.

After graduating from La Junta High School, Kottwitz moved to Fort Collins in 1997 to attend Colorado State University, majoring in Biology.  Like many college students she worked a variety of jobs to help pay for her education.  One of her favorite jobs was working on the education staff at the Denver Zoo.  Kottwitz taught programs for kids as young as five, as well as adult classes.

After leaving CSU in 2002, Kottwitz was a paid campaign staffer during the election cycle that year.  Then in 2003 she became a Constituent Liaison for Congressman Bob Beauprez.  It was her job to help the Congressman and his constituents in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, and energy.

Kottwitz returned to the classroom in 2004 to attend nursing school at Front Range Community College and became a registered nurse the following year.  In 2008 she was named a Certified Critical Care Nurse.  Kottwitz now works as an intensive care nurse at Poudre Valley Hospital.Kottwitz and her husband, Mike, were married in 2006.  They have an eight month old daughter, Tatum.