Veneman Expected to be Named Today

December 20, 2000

Ann Veneman, veteran USDA top official under former President George Bush and a former director of the California Food and Agriculture Department, is expected to be named today to the position of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, according to accounts in THE WASHINGTON POST and other media. President-elect George W. Bush is said to be ready to name Veneman along with other cabinet nominations. She was one of several candidates for cabinet positions who met with Bush on Monday.

Veneman, 51, served as director of the California Food and Agriculture Department from 1996 to 1998. She was appointed by former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson as the first woman to head the agency. She is an attorney whose family operated a peach farm. While in the California post, she emphasized foreign trade, food safety and education. Since leaving the state department, she has practiced has practiced law in Sacramento and maintained her interest in food, agriculture, environment, technology and trade issues.

The president of the California Farm Bureau Federation Bill Pauli said, "No one knows California agriculture or the issues farmers and ranchers in the nation's top farm state face better than Ann. She served California with distinction as the secretary of California Department of Food and Agriculture and also as deputy secretary at USDA. She is an excellent choice and she will work hard for U.S. agriculture."

Veneman, a native of Modesto, served with the USDA in various capacities from 1986 to 1993, initially under the leadership of another Californian, former Secretary Dick Lyng. She was deputy secretary (1991-1993), deputy under secretary for international affairs and commodity programs (1989-1991), associate administrator for the Foreign Agricultural Service (1987-1989), and assistant to the administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (1986-1987).

"She has considerable interest and experience in international trade. Ann understands the importance of opening new markets and expanding agricultural trade around the globe," said Pauli. "She knows that one of the keys to prosperity in agriculture is increased trade."