For Immediate Release
December 16, 2009
Contact: Kristin Crawford
717-787-4420
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Senate Confirms Secretary of Agriculture Nominee 

HARRISBURG – The Senate today voted to confirm the nomination of Russell Redding to serve as Secretary of Agriculture, according to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36).  

Redding served in a leadership position in the Department of Agriculture since being appointed to serve as a Deputy Secretary in 1995. He has served as the Department’s Executive Deputy Secretary since 2003, overseeing more than 1,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. 

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to send Redding’s nomination to the Senate floor with a favorable recommendation.  

"Russell Redding has a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with the issues that face our agriculture community, and I am confident that he will be a strong partner in our efforts to protect and promote our state’s most important industry," Brubaker said. "The broad community served by the Department of Agriculture has offered a massive outpouring of support for his nomination throughout the process, and their input was an important factor in this confirmation." 

Redding helped to protect the interests of Pennsylvania farmers in the federal Farm Bill in 2008. Brubaker also noted that Redding has hands-on experience in agriculture as the former owner of a dairy farm in Adams County. 

Redding earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agriculture and Extension Education from Penn State.