Gov. Tony Evers has announced the appointment of Gary Besaw to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board. Besaw will serve as a consumer representative in a term expiring May 1, 2029.
Besaw, of Keshena, currently serves as the director of the Menominee Tribal Department of Agriculture and Food Systems and the Menominee Tribal Food Distribution Program. Besaw is an enrolled tribal member of the Menominee Nation and has served on the Menominee Tribal Legislature for 15 years — twice holding positions as tribal chairman, and once each as vice chairman and secretary. Besaw currently serves on the Shawano-Menominee Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee, serving his second term.
“DATCP has a long tradition of policy engagement from the citizen members of the DATCP Board,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “I thank the governor’s leadership in appointing Mr. Besaw. We look forward to having him join and continuing our positive and collaborative working relationship with the DATCP board.”
Besaw has served on multiple environmental and policy committees for the Menominee Nation, including 15 years as the tribe’s representative on the Wisconsin Legislature’s State-Tribal Relations Study Committee. He previously worked in Native American education at the College of Menominee Nation as vice president of student services. Besaw holds a Bachelor of Science in art education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a Master of Science in education administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Besaw’s first board meeting will be March 6.
Categories
