Washington, D.C. – Congressman Paulsen (MN-03) issued the following statement on President Trump’s appointments of two Minnesotans to key agriculture positions. Brad Finstad, the CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development, was named the Minnesota State Director for the USDA Office of Rural Development; and Joe Martin, former Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, was named Farm Service Agency Director.

“I’ve known Brad since we served in the Minnesota Legislature together and I know his commitment to rural Minnesota is unwavering,” said Congressman Paulsen. “His personal and professional background will serve him well in making sure our state’s rural communities have the resources they need to address childcare, the opioid epidemic, and aging infrastructure.”

Finstad currently serves CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and Development, a non-partisan, not-for-profit policy research organization based in St. Peter, Minn. Prior to his current role, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008, representing Brown, Redwood, and Watonwan counties and serving on the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veteran Affairs Committee. He also worked as an agricultural advisor to U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy from Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Agricultural Education.

Paulsen also applauded Joe Martin’s appointment to Farm Service Agency Director, saying, “Joe Martin’s long tenure in the Minnesota agriculture community will ensure the USDA offers the best service to Minnesota farmers and rural Minnesota.”

Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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