The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) welcomes this week’s confirmation of fellow Minnesotan Steve Censky as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

Cenksy was nominated to the position by President Donald Trump in July. After testifying in September, Censky’s selection was confirmed Tuesday night by the bipartisan Senate Agriculture Committee.

“MSGA and our ASA directors have always maintained an excellent working and personal relationship with Steve Censky,” MSGA President Michael Petefish says. “He understands the concerns and interests of Minnesota soybean farmers. His breadth of experience speaks volumes, and MSGA is eager to continue partnering with Steve as he works on behalf of American farmers.”

Censky was raised on a corn and soybean farm in Jackson, Minn., and holds a lengthy background in agriculture. After earning degrees in agriculture and agriculture studies, he served in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) during both Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush’s administrations. He helped write the 1990 Farm Bill, and was later appointed the head of USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service. For the past two decades, Censky was CEO of the American Soybean Association, where he made market expansion efforts his chief priority.

“Steve has been such an asset to our organization. He’s helped the profitability of soybeans grow as much as anybody,” says ASA and MSGA Director Bill Gordon. “He’s a great leader and a Minnesota boy who’s made us proud. We’re sad he’s leaving ASA, but we’re also excited for his next opportunity. Steve’s always going to do what’s right for agriculture.”