Agriculture Sec. Vilsack visits city, touts need for investments, highlights ways to repopulate rural America'. "Hundreds turned out Monday morning to the Muskingum County Welcome Center to meet Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It's not every day a member of the presidential cabinet makes a local stop. And the visit provided an opportunity for local farmers, representatives from farm-services agencies and other local officials to ask questions ranging from dairy price stability to food safety, broadband access and rural housing. Vilsack was joined by U.S. Rep. Zack Space and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on the 18th stop of his national Rural Tour. "It's an opportunity for me to listen and to learn and to provide information on what USDA is doing," Vilsack told the audience. " [ Zanesville Times Recorder 9/1]

Rural Tour stops in Zanesville. "The U.S. Agriculture Secretary visited Zanesville Monday as part of the Obama administration's efforts to rebuild and revitalize rural America. Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa, was joined by Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Zack Space. They listened to local residents, many of them farmers, about how the federal government can help them and get through challenges facing their communities. Vilsack says over the next year $9 billion dollars will be spent to expand broadband service. Another goal, local produce production and local consumption through local farmers. " [ WNBS 10tv 8/31]

Secretary of agriculture in Zanesville. "One of Barack Obama's top cabinet officials made a stop in Zanesville today. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a town hall meeting at the Muskingum County Welcome Center as part of his "Rural Tour." Vilsack joined by Senator Sherrod Brown and Representative Zack Space, took questions from a standing-room only audience. "It's an opportunity for me to listen and to learn and perhaps to provide some information about what the USDA is doing. We like to think of ourselves as an everyday, every way USDA and I think you might be surprised as the day goes on how many activities we're engaged and involved in," says Vilsack. " [ WHIZ 8/31]

Vilsack pushes energy bill during Rural Tour stop in Zanesville, Ohio. "Anyone paying attention to the topics discussed and the places the U.S. agriculture secretary has visited in the past two weeks, knows the USDA is concentrating efforts on farming and how important it is to the U.S. economy. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the southeastern portion of the Buckeye State Aug. 31 as part of the Obama administration's Rural Tour. The rural community forum, held in Zanesville, Ohio, also drew U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Zack Space. Vilsack spoke for about 15 minutes on his goals and what the USDA is trying to accomplish and then the floor was opened to the community. He touched on topics not just related to the agriculture sector, but addressed rural living as well, including a rural broadband project. " [ Farm & Dairy 8/31]

Agriculture secretary visits Zanesville, touts rural investments. "Hundreds turned out Monday morning to the Muskingum County Welcome Center to meet Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It's not every day that a member of the presidential cabinet makes a local stop. And the visit provided an opportunity for local farmers, representatives from farm-services agencies and other local officials to ask questions ranging from dairy price stability to food safety, broadband access and rural housing. Vilsack was joined by U.S. Rep. Zack Space and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on his 18th stop of his national Rural Tour. " [ Newark Advocate , Marion Star, Coshocton Tribune, Chillicothe Gazette, Mansfield News Journal, Ohio 8/31 Brian Gadd]