Vicky grew up on a Cass County farm, where faith and hard work were values instilled at an early age. Vicky graduated from Archie High School, earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Missouri—Columbia and a post-graduate from the University of Central Missouri. Vicky taught school in the Belton and Lebanon schools for more than a decade. She made it her daily mission to inspire young people toward better and fuller lives. Vicky and her husband, Lowell, now own a small business, creating jobs in the community. The Hartzlers reside on their farm in Cass County.