Adam grew up on a farm outside Fertile, Minnesota and now lives in Bemidji. He enlisted in the National Guard in March 1965 and remained in the service until March 1971. He graduated from basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana and then spent time as a rifle squad leader in Crookston. He also completed Cold Weather Operations Course at Fort Greeley, Alaska and was in the Honor Guard. 

After his time in the Guard, he was a natural gas transmission compression and pipeline operator and heavy equipment operator for many years.