Born in Blue Mound, Illinois, Noland graduated from the public schools in Blue Mound, and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education and Economics.
[1][2] Professionally, he has been Vice President of Noland Farms and an agribusiness officer at Illinois National Bank of Springfield for four years.
[3] The district included all or portions of Macon, Christian, Cumberland, Shelby, and Moultrie counties in Central Illinois.
[2] In the 1998 election for Illinois Senate, Noland defeated Democratic incumbent Kevin Kehoe, who had been appointed to replace the late Penny Severns.
[5][6] The Senate district he represented, located in Central Illinois, included all or parts of Macon, Christian, Piatt, Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, Moultrie, and Effingham.