Pictured: L-R: CAFES Dean Michael Orth, Romanski and Professor Emeritus Purnendu Vasavada, who nominated Romanski for the honor.
Randy Romanski, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, has been named the 2026 Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at UW-River Falls.
The award was presented to Romanski, a 1989 UWRF alum, at the 60th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet April 16.
“As secretary of DATCP since 2019, Mr. Romanski has worked on important issues to Wisconsin agriculture dealing with meat and dairy processing, farmland preservation, soil and water health initiatives, and protecting animal and human health,” says Professor Emeritus Purnendu Vasavada, who nominated Romanski for the honor. “He has also championed efforts to prepare career pathways for the next generation of Wisconsin agriculturalists.”
CAFES Dean Michael Orth highlighted Romanski’s support of UWRF and agricultural education efforts around Wisconsin.
“Randy has been a strong proponent of the Dairy Innovation Hub and Meat Talent Development Program in the state,” Orth says. “More specifically, he was very supportive of the meat science high school curriculum created in the college as well as the initiation of the Humane Handling Institute (HHI) under the leadership of Dr. Kurt Vogel.”
The Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturalist Award was established in 1970 to recognize individuals who have provided leadership, service and other contributions to the broader agricultural community. Romanski was presented with a framed copy of the charcoal sketch of his portrait that hangs in the Agriculture Hall of Fame in the Agricultural Science building on campus.
“I’m humbled to receive this award from UW-River Falls, a university that helped shape my commitment to public service and agriculture,” Romanski said. “Wisconsin agriculture succeeds because of the people who innovate, collaborate and care for our land, animals and communities. I am grateful for this acknowledgment and remain committed to supporting the producers and partners who drive our state’s agricultural future.”
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