Indiana farmer Don Villwock says he’s a long-time friend of Vice President-elect Mike Pence, reports Agriculture.com, adding that Villwock “wouldn’t confirm or deny that he’s among those being vetted” for agriculture secretary. A grain farmer from Edwardsport in southwestern Indiana, Villwock was president of the state Farm Bureau for 14 years, ending in January, and was a proponent of free-markets during discussion of U.S. farm and trade policy.
“Because Mike Pence will leave the governorship of Indiana to become vice resident next year, it’s not surprising that several other potential ag secretaries are Hoosiers,” said Agriculture.com, listing a handful of farm and agribusiness leaders. Villwock said Pence is taking special interest in the transition at USDA because of turnover among the Trump team.
The Republican staff director of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Joel Leftwich, a former Pepsico official, was named as leader of the “landing team” for President-elect Donald Trump at the Agriculture Department, said Agri-Pulse. Myron Ebell, an ethanol critic and climate-change skeptic, will lead the landing team at EPA.