He received his bachelor's degree in agricultural science from Texas A&M University in 1997, his master's in animal science with an emphasis in beef cattle production from Texas A&M University in 1998, and his doctorate in animal science with an emphasis in beef cattle genetics and management from Texas Tech University in August 2002. From January 2000 to August 2002, he served as a teaching assistant at Texas Tech University and taught junior and senior level beef cattle production and genetics classes in the Department of Animal Science. He also served as a research assistant for the Texas Beef Initiative at Texas Tech and is also a member of the American Society of Animal Science. Cleere also owns and operates a herd of purebred Shorthorn cattle