Officials from the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have recognized Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. (WI-08.) for his leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives on agricultural issues important to the university and the state.

“Representative Kagen has demonstrated outstanding support and commitment to America”s Land Grant Universities and federal programs that advance Wisconsin agriculture and related industries during his two terms in the House,” said CALS Interim Dean and Director Irwin Goldman, who presented Kagen with a plaque during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on February 24.

Kagen, whose Congressional district includes Appleton and Green Bay, currently serves as the only Wisconsin member of Congress on the House Committee on Agriculture and has seats on the influential Subcommittees on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry; and Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry.

“It”s an honor to represent the greatest people and the greatest university in our nation,” said Dr. Kagen. “As I learned at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we are what we eat, and I”m working hard to guarantee that the frontier of agriculture discovery is in Wisconsin.”

Goldman says the college wanted to recognize Kagen”s efforts supporting agriculture, food, natural resources, energy and the environment in a special way. He presented Kagen with a plaque that declares him a “friend of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.”

“We are proud to call Steve a friend of the college,” Goldman says. “We wanted to acknowledge his support of the Wisconsin Idea, as it”s embodied in our research, teaching and outreach missions.”

Steve Kagen was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he and his wife Gayle raised four children. His first job was at the Foremost Dairy, where he bagged sugar and whey. He later earned an Honors Degree in Molecular Biology and his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006.