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Brancel retires, Lyon named Interim Wisconsin Ag Secretary

Monday is the first day of retirement for Wisconsin’s longest-serving Ag Secretary Ben Brancel.  One of Brancel’s biggest supporters is his former boss, Governor Scott Walker who tells Brownfield, “He was a great Secretary under (former Governor) Tommy Thompson.  I was honored that he was willing to come back and serve for me again as Secretary of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection.  He’s a farmer’s farmer.  He’s decent.  He represents not only the state but the midwest well all across the country, and really all around the world with the trade missions he’s been a part of.  We’re going to miss him, but it’s a well-deserved retirement.”

Walker has appointed Brancel’s deputy secretary Jeff Lyon as the Interim Secretary, and he tells Brownfield naming a permanent replacement might take a while.  “We want to get through this (state fair), get through the budget.”  Walker adds, “What I want is someone like Ben who’s got good experience as a farmer.”

Brancel not only served as Secretary under two governors, he was also once the state’s FSA Director and has worked on many boards and trade missions.

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