Patrick Hooker named Commissioner of Agriculture

This is from an Ag and Markets press release I received this morning;

Patrick M. Hooker is being nominated to serve as Commissioner of
Agriculture and Markets.
Mr. Hooker currently serves as the Director of the Public Policy at the
New York Farm Bureau, a position which he has held since 1999.
Previously, Mr. Hooker was the Deputy Director of
Governmental Relations at the New York Farm Bureau
from 1990 to 1999.From 1987 to 1990, he served as
Director of the New York State Senate Agriculture Committee.
He was also a Rural Affairs Advisor to the New York State Assembly in the Office of the Minority Leader from 1985 to1987.
Mr. Hooker received his B.S. from Cornell University
and his A.A.S. from the State University of New York at Morrisville.

I think this is really good news for New York farmers. Pat is a fair and decent guy with an outstanding knowledge of the industry.