Tom Vilsack Quotes

Powerful Tom Vilsack for Daily Growth

About Tom Vilsack

Tom Vilsack, born on February 13, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an influential American politician, attorney, and agricultural advocate who served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Vilsack grew up on a dairy farm in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he developed a strong connection with agriculture that would shape his future career. After graduating from Hamilton College and Albany Law School of Union University, Vilsack returned to Iowa and established a private law practice in rural eastern Iowa. In 1997, he was elected as the Governor of Iowa, a position he held for two terms until 2007. During his governorship, Vilsack focused on education reform, economic development, and environmental protection. He also played a crucial role in attracting renewable energy projects to Iowa. In 2009, President Obama nominated Vilsack as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, a post he held for two terms. As the Secretary of Agriculture, Vilsack focused on rural development, food safety, conservation, and agricultural trade issues. He played a key role in implementing the 2008 farm bill and negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Post his tenure as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Vilsack has been active in various agricultural advocacy roles. In 2019, he was appointed as the President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, a position he currently holds. Throughout his career, Tom Vilsack's dedication to agriculture, rural development, and environmental sustainability has earned him recognition and respect both within the United States and globally.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Rural America is a vital part of our national fabric and economic engine."

This quote by Tom Vilsack emphasizes the importance of rural areas in the overall picture of America's identity, economy, and functioning. Rural America serves as a fundamental component of the country, not just geographically but also culturally and economically. The vibrant agricultural sector, small businesses, and unique communities contribute significantly to the nation's prosperity, making rural America an essential 'engine' that drives the U.S. economy forward. In other words, the well-being and success of rural America are integral to the health and growth of the United States as a whole.


"We need a strong safety net for our farmers and ranchers so they can continue to feed us."

This quote by Tom Vilsack emphasizes the importance of a robust agricultural support system, often referred to as a "safety net," to ensure food security. He suggests that farmers and ranchers must be adequately protected from potential economic hardships so they can continue their vital role in feeding society. The safety net may include policies such as subsidies, insurance programs, and disaster relief, which aim to mitigate the risks faced by agricultural producers.


"Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it's also an economic, social, and moral challenge that requires all of us to act."

The quote emphasizes that climate change is a multi-dimensional problem that transcends traditional boundaries such as environment, economy, society, and morality. In essence, it suggests that the impact of climate change goes beyond environmental degradation and affects various aspects of our lives, from economic stability to social wellbeing. It also implies a call to action for everyone to participate in addressing this global challenge, viewing it not just as an obligation but also as a moral responsibility towards future generations and the preservation of our planet.


"I believe in the American agri-food system and know it has the capacity to produce healthy food for people around the world."

Tom Vilsack's quote expresses confidence in the United States agriculture and food production system, emphasizing its potential to provide nutritious food not just for Americans but also for the global population. He believes that this system has the capability to maintain health and sustain life worldwide, demonstrating a global perspective on agricultural productivity and food security.


"It's time for agriculture to become a leader in sustainability, innovation, and resilience."

This quote emphasizes the importance of agriculture evolving beyond its traditional roles towards leading initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and increased resilience. This evolution is crucial because agriculture plays a significant role in shaping the future of our planet. Sustainable practices can minimize negative impacts on the environment, while technological innovations can help increase productivity without compromising resources. Additionally, building resilience ensures that agriculture can withstand the challenges posed by climate change and other unpredictable factors, thus ensuring food security for generations to come.


In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only nine percent of family farm income comes from farming, and more and more of our farmers are looking elsewhere for their primary source of income.

- Tom Vilsack

Income, United, Nine, Primary Source

I don't care what anybody says: Nothing is better than a tomato you grow. There's something about it that's different than a tomato you can buy. It's a great thing.

- Tom Vilsack

Grow, Nothing, Anybody, Great Thing

There are ways we can go do a better job of educating young moms and dads about the vital role they have as the child's first teacher. I think there are ways in which we can partner with local school districts and states to do a better job to provide nutrition options at school.

- Tom Vilsack

Young, Role, I Think, Dads

I don't know of a Democrat - whether they're a conservative, a centrist or a liberal Democrat - that doesn't think that it's important to have quality jobs that pay decent wages so that families can support themselves, so that they can have the dignity of being able to afford health care, put money aside for pension, buy a home.

- Tom Vilsack

Conservative, Buy, Decent, Pension

But It doesn't make sense for us to have a continued reliance on a supply of oil where whenever there is unrest in another part of the world, gasoline prices jump up. We need a renewable fuel industry that's more than corn-based, of course, and there are a whole series of great opportunities here.

- Tom Vilsack

Here, Fuel, Another, Unrest

I wish I could give you all the examples over the last two years as secretary of agriculture, where I hear people in rural America constantly being criticized, without any expression of appreciation for what they do do.

- Tom Vilsack

Two, Rural, Constantly, Hear People

The food pyramid is very complicated. It doesn't give you as much info in a quick glance as the plate does.

- Tom Vilsack

Give, Quick, Very, Glance

Let us build a 21st-century rural economy of cutting-edge companies and technologies that lead us to energy and food security. Such an investment will revitalize rural America, re-establish our moral leadership on climate security and eliminate our addiction to foreign oil.

- Tom Vilsack

Rural, Eliminate, Our, Cutting-Edge

Technology has allowed us to have more drought-resistant crops. The spotty nature of drought, the spotty nature of rains can sometimes result in better yields than anticipated.

- Tom Vilsack

Nature, More, Allowed, Rains

In his first year in office, President Obama pulled us back from the brink of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and worked to lay a new foundation for economic growth. The president identified three key strategies to build that lasting prosperity: innovation, investment, and education.

- Tom Vilsack

Education, Year, Obama, Brink

The Obama administration will continue to fight for a comprehensive immigration solution that includes AgJobs and a stable workforce for our farms.

- Tom Vilsack

Immigration, Will, Obama, Workforce

Today, President Obama is making smart investments in clean energy - wind, solar, biofuels - as part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy that supports thousands of jobs, not in the Middle East, but in the Midwest.

- Tom Vilsack

Middle, Making, Clean Energy, Supports

President Obama has expressed his commitment to responsible stewardship of our land, water, and other natural resources. And one way of restoring the land to its natural condition is what we are doing here today - breaking pavement for the People's Garden.

- Tom Vilsack

Doing, Here, Other, Garden

Rural Americans want leaders who help middle-class communities to plan and prosper over the long-term - not opportunists who reap the rewards for themselves, leaving nothing for the people who do the sowing.

- Tom Vilsack

Over, Middle-Class, Prosper, Sowing

USDA is committed to keeping pace with the needs and progress of American agriculture by supporting new markets and movements that will keep farmers profitable and help create middle class jobs across the country.

- Tom Vilsack

New, Country, Needs, Supporting

Over the past two years, the Obama Administration and USDA have worked to build a foundation for sustainable economic growth in rural America. At the center of our vision is an effort to increase domestic production and use of renewable energy.

- Tom Vilsack

Production, Sustainable, Use, Economic

Food is a fairly significant aspect of my life. I have struggled mightily with food. With my weight. And I'm conscious of it. So I have a sensitivity to people who struggle with their weight.

- Tom Vilsack

My Life, Fairly, Struggled, Struggle

To help producers serve larger institutional customers like schools and hospitals, USDA has helped fund new regional infrastructure like cold storage warehouses, commercial kitchens and local slaughter facilities.

- Tom Vilsack

New, Hospitals, Larger, Kitchens

If you think of what food is, it's the energy we use to do our daily work. I want people to know about the USDA. This is a very important department. It's not fully appreciated as such.

- Tom Vilsack

Think, Very, Use, Daily Work

At President Obama's direction, the U.S Department of Agriculture is working hard to unleash the power of America's innovators and entrepreneurs to build a green energy economy.

- Tom Vilsack

Green, Entrepreneurs, Obama, Department

There is more potential for economic growth in rural America than at any time in decades.

- Tom Vilsack

More, Rural, Than, Decades

And sometimes people don't realize that 90 percent of the persistent poverty counties are located in rural America.

- Tom Vilsack

People, Sometimes, Rural, Located

You know, rural Americans are a special people. Their labor puts food on our table and fuel in our gas tanks. Their service in our military sets a powerful example of leadership, honor and sacrifice. Their spirit of community inspires us all.

- Tom Vilsack

Honor, Fuel, Rural, Table

President Obama's fight for rural America is personal. He was raised by a single mom and grandparents from Kansas. He hails from a farming state, Illinois.

- Tom Vilsack

Grandparents, Rural, Obama, Kansas

This is an exciting time for farmers and ranchers of all types and sizes as agriculture is a bright spot in the American economy. In 2011, agricultural exports hit a record high and producers saw their best incomes in nearly 40 years.

- Tom Vilsack

Exciting Time, Exports, American Economy

Although they are some of the hardest working folks I know, rural Americans earn, on average, $11,000 less than their urban counterparts each year. And they are more likely to live in poverty.

- Tom Vilsack

Year, Average, Some, Counterparts

It is critical to develop a biofuel industry powered by feedstocks produced in every corner of the country, in addition to the Midwest. That is why USDA has established five regional research centers working on science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feedstocks.

- Tom Vilsack

Country, Critical, Powered, Centers

We're going to move from a commodity economy where you basically grow the same kind of crops - where a kernel of corn is a kernel of corn is a kernel of corn - to an ingredient economy where there will be a kernel of corn that will be designed for fuel, there will be a kernel of corn designed for livestock.

- Tom Vilsack

Grow, Move, Commodity, Designed

Democrats have always historically referred to our families as working families, and I have sort of changed that moniker. I think what we have is a nation of worried families - families that are concerned about job security, families who thought their pensions were secure and now have questions.

- Tom Vilsack

Thought, I Think, Concerned, Worried

The rise of childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk.

- Tom Vilsack

Health, Generation, Placed, Obesity

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