USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Honored for Many Years of Support at Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

Vilsack Received IRFA’s Highest Award – “Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels”

Contact: Emma Koehler
515-252-6249

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Today the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association honored Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack with the “Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels” award at the 2024 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona, Iowa.

“Sec. Vilsack has been an outstanding and unrelenting champion of renewable fuels throughout his career as a state legislator, governor and now USDA secretary,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “As a lawyer, he dealt first-hand with families losing the farm during the 1980s Farm Crisis. Knowing that new markets were needed, he was a champion for biofuels as both state legislator and governor. Now, Sec. Vilsack continues to push for innovative new opportunities for farmers across the country, including sustainable aviation fuel. Looking at Sec. Vilsack’s entire career, it is clear he understands not just the economic value of biofuels, but the intrinsic values of hope and confidence in the future they provide for rural America.”

Vilsack received the Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels award for his many years of supporting and advocating for biofuels throughout his distinguished career. This is only the second time this prestigious honor has been awarded. The first recipient, Gov. Terry Branstad, received the award in 2017 as he was transitioning from the governors office to be the U.S. ambassador to China.

Nominated by President Joe Biden, Sec. Vilsack was confirmed as the 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture on Feb. 23, 2021 by the U.S. Senate. Vilsack was the longest-serving member of President Barack Obama’s original Cabinet. Prior to his appointment, he served two terms as the Governor of Iowa, served in the Iowa State Senate and as the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and his law degree from Albany Law School in New York.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.5 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 410 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

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