Congressman Rick Berg today congratulated former Secretary of Agriculture and North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer while speaking at Schafer’s portrait unveiling ceremony at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Schafer served as the 29^th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2008-2009, and two terms as the Governor of North Dakota from 1992-2000. 

“It is a pleasure to be here today as we honor a good friend of mine,” Berg said of Secretary Schafer at today’s unveiling.  “When Ed took over as Ag Secretary in 2008, he became just the third North Dakotan to serve in a Presidential Cabinet.  As Secretary, he applied the same principles and leadership style that worked so well when he was Governor of North Dakota.  He will forever be remembered in North Dakota for his tenure as governor, the prosperity it brought, and his down-home ‘just call me Ed’ style.  Today he will be forever honored and remembered for his service as our country’s 29^th Secretary of Agriculture.”

Schafer was introduced by his wife Nancy Schafer, and current Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack gave remarks. Berg along with former colleagues at the agency provided tributes to the former secretary and governor. The ceremony took place on the USDA Whitten Building Patio.

After addressing those in attendance Schafer duct taped a photograph of him and his wife Nancy to the back of the portrait so, as in life, they will always be together as a team.