On Friday March 20, Utah’s Governor appointed a Republican state legislative representative for Summit County to serve as the commissioner for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
Croydon resident Logan Wilde has represented parts of Summit County in the state legislature since 2017. On March 20 Wilde accepted an appointment from the Governor to serve as the commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. His appointment will likely be confirmed by the state legislature during an interim session in May. The department, which contains about 100 employees does all regulation of agriculture that comes into and is transferred around the state.
“They do weights and measurements, much like they test and regulate how much gas is coming into your gas pump so that price per gallon is what the pump says,” Wilde explained. They also do seed inspection so that seeds that we’re planting in the ground are what people are saying they are. Those are the kinds of things that we do. Yesterday we were dealing with food inspections, at the Department of AG trying to make sure that we can keep food inspections going during this time of crisis and what that entails, especially if we do get one or two people sick. We're still going to need to make sure that the inspection of food is happening. So, we're coming up with plans making sure that those are in place.”
Wilde explained why he’s taken the job as commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
“I think we need a centralized voice for agriculture in the state,” Wilde said. “I know that we definitely need to make sure that we have a stable voice as well right now that people don't panic. You've seen a little bit of panic with people going out and just buying and hoarding food. We're looking to make sure that we have that ample food coming into the state. Even the producers that are here in the state. I really think this is a role that I can participate in and do well.”
Wilde serves at the pleasure of the Governor, meaning when Utah elects a new Governor this fall, he could or could not be brought back on by the new governor. He says he’s not thinking about that right now, instead focusing on making sure they have a plan in place to protect the public during COVID-19.
