New interim ag director in Michigan

Dec 07, 2022

Kathy Angerer steps into the position after Gary McDowell’s retirement

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Michigan’s ag community have a new representative in the state legislature.

Kathy Angerer, the current deputy director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), received an appointment from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to be the new ag director on an interim basis.

As deputy director, she supported the department’s work in investing in rural communities, expanding agribusinesses and protecting environmental resources.

Kathy Angerer

The work Angerer and MDARD does is important to ensure thriving rural and farming communities.

“Michigan’s rural communities and agriculture sector are crucial for the success of our state, and we appreciate the hard work happening every day at the department to grow the rural economy,” Chuck Lippstreu, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association, said in a statement. “We also appreciate Governor Whitmer’s efforts to grow agriculture and invest in the future of our small towns. The department has been, and will continue to be, led by people who have our best interest at heart and can deliver results for rural Michigan.”

Her professional experience includes representing her community as a State Representative from 2005 to 2010. From 2011 to 2012 she served as the executive director of government affairs at AT&T Michigan, and was recently the city manager for Hamtramck.

Angerer’s appointment comes after Gary McDowell, who served as ag director for Gov. Whitmer’s first term, announced his plans to retire at the end of 2022.

McDowell chose Angerer as his deputy director in July of this year.

“Kathy has a long history of public service with a passion for the key issues impacting food and agriculture like increasing high-speed internet access and growing our small businesses, while ensuring we’re building bridges within those communities,” McDowell said in a July 18 statement. “I am confident Kathy will bring that same commitment and support for MDARD’s programs, our stakeholders and staff.”

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm