Governor Names Mike Jaspers Secretary Of Agriculture
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he has appointed Mike Jaspers of rural Minnehaha County to serve as South Dakota’s Secretary of Agriculture. Jaspers will begin July 5, 2016.
“I am very excited to have Mike serve as ag secretary,” Gov. Daugaard said. “His background in agriculture production, policy and administration makes him a great fit to lead the department.”
“I am honored that Gov. Daugaard has given me this opportunity,” Jaspers said. “I look forward to working with the men and women who make agriculture our state’s No. 1 industry.”
A native of northeast South Dakota, Jaspers operates a diversified crop and livestock farm in McCook, Hutchinson and Marshall counties. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Agriculture from South Dakota State University in 1993.
In addition to operating his farm and holding management positions in several agricultural businesses, Jaspers served in the South Dakota State Legislature from 1997-2005. In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed him state director of USDA-Rural Development, where he served until June 2008.
Jaspers currently serves as vice chairman of the board for Sioux Falls Catholic Schools and is a graduate of the South Dakota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (SDARL) program. He and his wife, Robin, have two children.
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Editor’s note – Unexpected, but not unwelcome at all. Mike’s a good guy. -pp
Mike and the entire Jaspers family are good people. My privilege to know them for almost 30 years now. We’ll miss the Lentsches but so glad to have this news today. Congrats to all. Great choice.
Good man, but poor day to do it….it will get lost in the news of the elections….and not a controversial pick… I would have preferred he get his own day to shine, it is quite an honor after all.
I think that was the idea.
Good guy!
I have known Mike for about 20 years. This is a really good man and we are lucky to have him agree to serve. His depth of knowledge on all aspects of agriculture (production both small and large all the way through to the consumer) makes him extremely rare and valuable.
Mike Jaspers,
I belong to the Sioux Falls Morning Optimist Club and we meet on Thursday mornings at the Hy Vee Resturant on South Minnesota Ave. at 7:00 AM. Our group is about 20-25 members and we would like you to be our guest for Breakfast and tell us about yourself and your New Position of Agriculture Secretary. The date we have for you is July 21st, 2016. Please respond back to confirm.
Bruce Swan
605 360 0406
Thanks