Sheila Harsdorf

Sheila E. Harsdorf (born July 25, 1956) is an American dairy farmer and Republican politician from Pierce County, Wisconsin. She served as the 11th secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, during the administration of Governor Scott Walker. She previously served ten years in the Wisconsin State Assembly and 17 years in the State Senate. Her brother, James Harsdorf, also served in the state Legislature, and was also secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Early life, education and career Harsdorf was born in Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1956 and her family moved to River Falls, Wisconsin, in 1970. Harsdorf graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1978 with a B.S. in Animal Science, and returned to River Falls to become a loan officer for the Production Credit Association while farming part-time on the Harsdorf family dairy farm. Two years later, she and her older brother, Jim, became partners in the family business.

While farming full-time, Harsdorf was a member of the Pierce County Farm Bureau Board of Directors from 1982 to 1988, serving as treasurer for three years. She also served as chair of the Pierce County Dairy Promotion Committee in 1986. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Pierce-Pepin Holstein Breeders Association, was a graduate of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, and was involved in Pierce County 4-H as a member of the Dairy Committee and a coach of the Dairy Judging Team.

Wisconsin legislature

State Assembly In 1988, Harsdorf ran for and won the seat of the 30th Assembly District in the Wisconsin State Assembly. She won a total of five consecutive elections, finishing her last term in 1999.

During Harsdorf's time in the State Assembly, she served on the Assembly committees on Natural Resources, on Veterans and Military Affairs, and on Agriculture, and was the ranking Republican on the Colleges and Universities Committee. She also served on the Legislative Advisory Committee on the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission and on the Legislative Council Special Committee on Land Use. In 1995, she was appointed to the prestigious Joint Finance Committee, a 16-member committee responsible for drafting the state's biennial budget.

State Senate In 2000, Harsdorf entered the 10th State Senate District race against Democratic Senator Alice Clausing, a two-term incumbent. The 10th Senate District comprises all of St. Croix County and portions of Burnett, Dunn, Pierce and Polk counties in the northwestern part of the state. She defeated Clausing and independent candidate Jim Nelson in the general election. She was re-elected in 2004, defeating challenger Gary Bakke, and 2008, defeating challenger Alison Page.

Recall effort

Harsdorf was subject to a recall effort as part of the 2011 Wisconsin protests. Recall organizers filed an estimated 23,000 signatures with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, which verified the petitions and overruled challenges by Harsdorf. The recall election was set for August 9, 2011. Teacher and educators' union official Shelly Moore ran against Harsdorf in the recall election. Harsdorf defeated Moore, 58 percent to 42 percent in the recall election.

Cabinet appointment In November 2017, Harsdorf was appointed Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection by Governor Scott Walker. Her brother, Jim, had previously served in the same role under Governors Scott McCallum and Jim Doyle from 2001 to 2003. Harsdorf is the first woman to head DATCP in the department's 88-year history.

Personal life In her hometown of River Falls, Harsdorf is a member of Luther Memorial Church. Harsdorf is a past member of the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust Board and the Wisconsin Conservation Corps Board. She is also a former president of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation Sponsor's Board.

Source: Wisconsin Bluebook