FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2003
Contact:  Erin K. Kelly
(717) 846-2828
ekelly@pasen.gov
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Senate Agriculture Committee Confirms Secretary Designee Dennis Wolff

HARRISBURG – The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York), unanimously confirmed Secretary of Agriculture Designee, Dennis Wolff in a hearing held this morning.

During the hearing Mr. Wolff, a dairy farmer from Millville, PA, had the opportunity to present opening and closing remarks to the Committee, and in turn, the floor was opened to the Committee to ask questions of Wolff.

Chairman Waugh expressed support for Wolff during today’s hearing. "I am pleased to offer my support for Mr. Wolff as Secretary of Agriculture. I believe he is a qualified and knowledgeable candidate who will work with us to further the broad cause of agriculture and related issues in this Commonwealth," said Waugh.

In addition to owning and operating Pen-Col Farms, a 700 acre, 500 head dairy farm in Millville that specializes in breeding purebred Holstein cows, Wolff is a Director on five agricultural-related Boards, and is a member of the World Trade Organization's Agricultural Technical Committee, which provides input from the grassroots level on WTO agricultural policies. Wolff also serves on the Penn State Board of Trustees, and as President of Camp Victory, a non-profit summer camp for children with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

The Committee had also received a number of letters of support and endorsement for Wolff from several organizations, including the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania State Grange, and the Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers Association of Pennsylvania.

Since his nomination by Governor Ed Rendell at the 2003 State Farm Show, Wolff, has been meeting individually with Senators, in addition to taking on the daily responsibilities of the Secretary of Agriculture.

With confirmation from the Committee, only a vote from the full Senate is necessary for Wolff to now officially serve as Secretary.