HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Dennis Wolff was awarded the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ (PSATS) Founder’s Award at the association’s 86th annual Educational Conference and Trade Show in Hershey in May.
Named for the association’s founder, H.A. “Cappy” Thomson, the award recognizes individuals or groups whose outstanding efforts on behalf of local governments have resulted in significant benefits to townships.
The honor is presented only when there is someone deserving of it.
Accomplishments
Wolff, a dairy farmer from Columbia County, was honored for forging a stronger relationship between Pennsylvania’s farmers and township officials. Since his appointment in 2003, he has worked closely with the state’s local government associations to build a greater understanding of agriculture.
“The Department of Agriculture has been extremely fortunate to have the support of PSATS members for so many of our initiatives,” Wolff said. “At the local level, no one has done more to become familiar with agricultural issues and to work with us in state government to find collaborative solutions to those issues.”
In presenting the Founder’s Award to Wolff, association President Dick Hadley praised the secretary for his hard work on behalf of farming and townships.
“Just as local government is the cornerstone of this commonwealth’s history, so, too, is agriculture,” Hadley said. “And one man, Dennis Wolff, has done more than anyone else I can think of to bring the two together and make sure both remain a part of our future.”
Biography
A master farmer since 1994, Wolff is a member of the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders and the Penn State University Board of Trustees. He is also an appointed member of the Agriculture Technical Advisory Committee to the World Trade Organization and is a past president of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
In addition, Wolff has organized and led several trade missions to key countries, including Mexico and Cuba.
