• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • YouTube
  • Apple
Mid-West Farm Report

Mid-West Farm Report

  • Farm News
  • Madison
    • Fabulous Farm Babe
      • About Pam
    • The Farm Team
    • Focus On Energy
    • Daily Podcast: Pam Jahnke
  • Eau Claire
    • Bob Bosold and Jill Welke
    • Podcast: Daily Show
    • Podcast: Interviews
    • Thank a Farmer
    • About Bob
    • Meet Rachel
  • Podcasts
    • Podcast: Pam Jahnke
    • Podcast: Eau Claire
    • Microbials Matter
    • 2022 World Dairy Expo Coverage
  • 2022 Wisconsin Century & Sesquicentennial Farm Salute
  • About Us
    • Affiliates
  • Contact
  • Watch
Home » Blog » Uncategorized » Planning Retirement After More Than 30 Years Of Public Service
March 20, 2023

Planning Retirement After More Than 30 Years Of Public Service

July 21, 2017

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Planning Retirement After More Than 30 Years Of Public Service

Good afternoon,

At the Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection meeting today in Tomahawk, I announced my retirement from state public service. I will retire on August 13.

When I was in high school, a national trip by the 4-H organization gave me a chance to meet my Congressman Melvin Laird. He instilled in me a desire to enter public service someday.

In 1986, the citizens of the 42nd Assembly District gave me an opportunity to start my service at the state level. Then, in 1997, Governor Thompson gave me another exciting opportunity to serve at a cabinet level position.

Life changed again in 2001 when I started my service as state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency. In 2009, I became the state liaison for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2011, Governor Scott Walker gave me another chance to be the Secretary of DATCP.

It has been my pleasure to serve as Secretary. I have given this much thought about when is the right time to retire. I came to the conclusion that there always will be unfinished business to be done, but now is the time to return to my family’s farm full-time in Marquette County as we plan for our first ever production sale. My son and daughter-in-law are now the sixth generation to farm the land. My first job was a farmer, and my last job will be a farmer.

I especially want to thank Governor Walker for the privilege to serve in his cabinet. I am grateful that I was able to be part of this administration, serving farmers, protecting consumers and supporting businesses.

I am very appreciative of my leadership team and the entire staff at the department. The service the agency provides to the public is second to none.

I am humbled by the great opportunities I have had throughout the past three decades. My work has taken me around the world, something I never would have imagined when I was young working in my barnyard.

I have always said that in agriculture, we are a family. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

Sincerely,

Ben Brancel

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
mm

About Pam Jahnke

Getting up at 2 in the morning might shock some of her listeners, but for Pam Jahnke, it’s part of the business. Born in Northeastern Wisconsin, Pam Jahnke grew up in agriculture. Raised on her family’s 200-acre dairy farm, she learned the “farm work ethic” first hand.

Primary Sidebar

Mid-West Farm Report Podcast

Secondary Sidebar

Pam Jahnke

Bob Bosold

Latest News

  • PDPW Business Conference Empowers Success, Names New Board
  • Yahara Pride Partners Share Research
  • Diederichs Receives Dean Strauss Leadership Award
  • Bid On Nation’s Top Cheeses At CheeseCon
  • Farm Discovery Center Hosts Spring Market
  • WCMA Grows Staff Team
  • Falling Barns Get New Life
  • GROWMARK Revamps Scholarship Program
  • More Chances To Get A Spring Turkey
  • Farmers Union Retreat Draws ‘Emerging Leaders’

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · The Mid-West Farm Report