[1] Fister was born the eldest of six children and was raised on his family's farm in northern Fayette County.

[2] He graduated from Lexington Catholic High School before attending the University of Kentucky to study agricultural production.

He went on to study police administration and accounting at Eastern Kentucky University before earning a Bachelor of Arts in the latter.

[1][2] During high school, Fister was a tenant tobacco farmer for his father.

[2] Fister currently is a member of the Central Kentucky Right to Life board of directors.