Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced June 7 that he has appointed Mike Jaspers of rural Minnehaha County to serve as South Dakota’s Secretary of Agriculture. Jaspers will begin July 5.
“I am very excited to have Mike serve as ag secretary,” Gov. Daugaard said. “His background in agriculture production, policy and administration makes him a great fit to lead the department.”
“I am honored that Gov. Daugaard has given me this opportunity,” Jaspers said. “I look forward to working with the men and women who make agriculture our state’s No. 1 industry.”
A native of northeast South Dakota, Jaspers operates a diversified crop and livestock farm in McCook, Hutchinson and Marshall counties. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanized Agriculture from South Dakota State University in 1993.
In addition to operating his farm and holding management positions in several agricultural businesses, Jaspers served in the South Dakota State Legislature from 1997-2005. In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed him state director of USDA-Rural Development, where he served until June 2008.
Jaspers currently serves as vice chairman of the board for Sioux Falls Catholic Schools and is a graduate of the South Dakota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (SDARL) program. He and his wife, Robin, have two children.
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