Secretary Ann Veneman

Dear Fellow Employees:

It’s great to be back here at USDA. Thank you all for the very warm reception you have given me.

I am deeply honored that President George W. Bush selected me to be the 27^th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, following in the footsteps of so many other leaders here at USDA.

I certainly thank Secretary Dan Glickman and Deputy Secretary Richard Rominger, as well as so many of you, for being so helpful and supportive during the last few weeks. They gave me all the courtesies and provided our transition team with additional background on the many issues here at USDA.

A few weeks ago, when I met with employees on the Patio, I saw so many faces--new and old--that have brought back many fond memories of when I served here at USDA under Secretaries Richard Lyng, Clayton Yeutter, and Edward Madigan.

I am fortunate to have worked with them. And now, I look forward to working with all of you to advance policies and programs in this new administration.

This transition shows that USDA continues to work effectively on behalf of the people it serves. This is only possible because of the hard work and dedication of our career employees.

As in every new administration, there will be some changes. However, if we work together, I am confident that we can move forward in creating the kind of team that we want to build for the future.

As I said in the Senate confirmation hearing, my goal in coming back to USDA is to find ways to work together and to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, innovation, mutual respect, and common sense. If we do this, then we will be able to give better quality service to those we assist throughout the country.

It’s great to be back here at USDA and I am pleased to be working with you again.