Last week, Minnesota Governor-elect Tim Walz appointed Thom Petersen as the state’s Agriculture Commissioner. Petersen, who served 16 years as Government Relations Director for the Minnesota Farmers Union, is beginning his first day on the job today. He says he not only wants to communicate and collaborate with farmers and ranchers, he wants to help them deal with the depressed farm economy.

He says he wants to work with all the agricultural groups to do what’s best for Minnesota’s farmers and ranchers.

Petersen replaces Dave Frederickson as Ag Commissioner and says he spoke with him prior to taking the position.

Petersen says he plans to visit farms across Minnesota as part of his job to keep on top of the issues important to farmers.