Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Gene Hugoson Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in January 2003. A south-central Minnesota farmer from the East Chain area, Hugoson was first appointed commissioner in July 1995 by Governor Arne Carlson, and was reappointed in 1999 by Governor Jesse Ventura. Hugoson and his wife, Patricia, operate a corn and soybean farm in Martin County. His son, Jon, and daughter-in-law Jaime are also involved in farm operations.

Hugoson served five terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives, having been first elected in 1986, and served four years as Assistant Minority Leader. Hugoson served on agriculture, taxes, transportation and transit committees during his time as a legislator.

Hugoson earned a degree in social science education from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. After graduating he served in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He has also done graduate work at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Hugoson’s lifelong farming background helps him maintain a producer’s perspective on the challenges facing Minnesota’s rapidly changing agricultural industry. He recognizes the need for agencies to be accessible to citizens, and consequently has worked on an ongoing reorganization of the department to ensure the organization’s focus remains squarely on providing superior service to its stakeholders.

As Commissioner, Hugoson has worked to strengthen Minnesota’s value-added industries and international trade opportunities. Seeking to boost demand for Minnesota products in promising markets, he has participated in successful trade development missions to China, Mexico, Cuba, Japan and other other nations. Hugoson frequently hosts international government and business leaders as well.

Hugoson was elected President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) in September 2003. NASDA membership includes fellow Commissioners, Secretaries, or Directors from all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The organization works with the federal government to develop and implement agricultural policy. During his one-year term as NASDA president, Hugoson is working with federal officials on prominent agricultural policy issues of the day and promotes U.S. agriculture during meetings with numerous international delegations.

As a member and former chairman of the state’s Environmental Quality Board (EQB), Hugoson consistently argued that it is possible – indeed necessary – for a community to have both a clean environment and a strong agricultural sector. Under his chairmanship, he helped build support for a statewide study of the economic, environmental and social impacts of animal agriculture.