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6 unusual facts about Tom Vilsack


2000 in LGBT rights

Tom Vilsack, governor of the U.S. state of Iowa, rescinds an executive order he issued in 1999 banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the public sector.

California Association of Winegrape Growers

Karen Ross served as President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996 to 2009, before becoming Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and was subsequently appointed as Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture in January, 2011.

Jackie Norris

In 1998, Norris served as finance director for Governor Tom Vilsack’s gubernatorial campaign in Iowa and as Iowa state political director on Al Gore’s 2000 Presidential campaign.

Jennifer Donahue

Jennifer Donahue began lecturing, hosting events and appearing on television as an expert-in-residence on behalf of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College in the Spring of 2011, based in Washington, D.C. In January 2012, she hosted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on behalf of the Institute.

Miscanthus giganteus

On June 15th, 2011, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Roy Blunt announced a pilot program to produce miscanthus in Missouri.

Randy Bauer

Prior to that, he was the Budget Director of the State of Iowa under Governor Tom Vilsack who later ran for President of the United States.


Terrace Hill

Governors Terry Branstad (1983–1999, 2011–present), Tom Vilsack (1999–2007), and Chet Culver (2007–2011) have occupied Terrace Hill since then.


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