Senator Torrey Westrom, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Finance Committee, released the following statement in response to Governor-elect Walz naming Thom Petersen as his appointee to serve as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA):

“I want to thank outgoing MDA Commissioner, Dave Frederickson, for his service to the state as Commissioner of Agriculture for the last eight years. With his departure, the Senate will conduct our review of Governor-elect Walz’s commissioner appointee, Thom Petersen. In his role as Government Relations Director for the Minnesota Farmer’s Union, I worked with Thom on issues such as common sense reforms to Minnesota’s buffer law, estate tax reform impacting family farmers, and supporting rural agricultural processing. As Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Finance Committee, I look forward to continuing our work together not only on those issues, but also expanding agricultural markets and creating opportunities for the next generation of Minnesota farmers.”