Bill Even

The Argus Leader reports that Gov. Rounds has appointed Bill Even as the new ag secretary for South Dakota.  Excerpt:

Bill Even, who grew up on a farm near Humboldt, will replace Larry Gabriel as South Dakota's secretary of agriculture.

Gov. Mike Rounds made the announcement Thursday. Even is director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and deputy secretary of Tourism and State Development. He previously served as state energy director and was executive director for the South Dakota Energy Infrastructure Authority.

"Bill brings a wealth of personal knowledge about the agriculture industry in South Dakota," Rounds said.

Even, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, is scheduled to take over the farm agency March 26, replacing Gabriel, a former legislative leader who earned a reputation as a hard-working and plain-speaking state official.

Gabriel's tenure in the top agriculture post includes a stint shepherding the governor's Dakota Certified Beef program and several years of difficult and often controversial decisions involving changes to try to balance the books at the State Fair.