Sheila Harsdorf was appointed Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) by Governor Walker in November 2017.
Harsdorf of River Falls earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Minnesota. Following graduation, she became an ag loan officer for Production Credit Association.
In 1980, Harsdorf and her brother, Jim, became partners in the family dairy farm. While farming full-time, she was very involved in the agricultural community, serving as treasurer of the Pierce County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, chair of the Pierce County Dairy Promotion Committee, and a member of the Pierce-Pepin Holstein Breeders Association Board of Directors. She was actively involved in Pierce County 4-H, volunteering on the dairy committee and coaching the dairy judging team.
Harsdorf served in the state legislature for more than 25 years. She was first a State Representative for the 30th Assembly District, and most recently she served as a State Senator for the 10th Senate District. During this time, she was a member of numerous committees, including the Joint Committee on Finance and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Small Business and Tourism.
Harsdorf is a graduate of the first class of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program. She is a former member of the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust Board and Wisconsin Conservation Corps Board. She is also a former president of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation Sponsor’s Board. Harsdorf remains an active member of Luther Memorial Church in River Falls. She has one son.
Deputy Secretary Keeley Moll
Keeley Moll was appointed Deputy Secretary of DATCP in November 2017. Moll served as the agency’s legislative and policy advisor since 1997. While in this position, she was part of major policy efforts including farmland preservation, Do Not Call, livestock siting and animal health.
Prior to her work at DATCP, Moll was a staff member for then Representative Ben Brancel in the State Capitol. She completed policy work for Brancel when he served as co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance and Assembly Speaker.
Moll earned her degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She resides in rural Poynette with her husband, Tim, and two sons.
Assistant Deputy Secretary Keith Ripp
Keith Ripp was appointed Assistant Deputy Secretary of
DATCP in
January 2018. Ripp is a third generation farmer. In addition to raising
livestock and grain on their family’s farm in Lodi, Ripp and his wife, Lori,
own and operate a small trucking business.
Prior
to his appointment, Ripp served as a State Representative since 2008. While in the Assembly, he was chair of the Committee
on Transportation, chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection, vice-chair
for the Committee on Local Government and a member of the Committee on
Agriculture.
Ripp is an active member of the agricultural
community, having served as a former president and vice-president of both the
Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association.
He was also a former president and co-founder of Badger Agvest and Lodi FFA
Alumni.
Ripp attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison Farm
and Industry Short Course Program after high school. He is the father of three
adult children and has two grandchildren.
