Governor Arne H. Carlson appointed Gene Hugoson as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on July 1, 1995. Hugoson is a farmer from Martin County in southern Minnesota and formerly taught high school social studies in Lakefield and St. James. Hugoson, his wife, Patricia, and their 15-year-old son, Jon, operate a 750-acre corn and soybean farm in Martin County. In addition, Hugoson has been involved in a family farm crop operation with his father, Leighton, a Martin County Commissioner, and his brother, Kevin. Kevin Hugoson also has a farrow-to-finish hog operation. 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 most recently served on these House committees: Agriculture, Taxes, Transportation, and Transit. Hugoson is a graduate of East Chain High School and Augsburg College with graduate work at Mankato State University. He served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and is a life member of the American Legion and the VFW.