National Grange President comments on announcement of incoming Secretary of Agriculture

On Thursday, January 19, 2017, National Grange President Betsy Huber commented on the announcement made by the Trump administration that Georgia Gov. Sonny Purdue has been tapped to be the next Secretary of Agriculture.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “It is a pleasure to welcome Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia to Washington D.C. as the incoming Secretary of Agriculture.

“The National Grange, America’s oldest general farm and rural public interest organization, is largely credited with the successful push to make the highest-ranking U.S. official for Agriculture a cabinet-level position in the late 1800s. We are pleased to see the respect the incoming administration and transition team has given the seat, which greatly impacts many aspects of rural life.

“Mr. Perdue is certainly well qualified to head up the United States Department of Agriculture, from his roots growing up on a rural crop and dairy farm to his education as a veterinarian and ownership of small agribusinesses, Purdue has a personal perspective of agriculture and rural matters. The Governor understands the plight of agriculture, the challenges facing rural America, and the business acumen required to oversee our nation’s massive food and agriculture policy system. We look forward to working with future Secretary Perdue on agriculture, food, land, water, rural healthcare, rural broadband, conservation and other issues affecting rural and small town America.”

CONTACT: Amanda Leigh Brozana National Grange Communications Director (301) 943-1090 co************@************ge.org