Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Garfield Eckberg, James Hoolihan, Kevin Kelleher, and Sherry Ristau to the Board of Directors of the Center for Rural Policy and Development. 

Garfield Eckberg, of Nicollet, retired from farming in 2001.  He has been an active member of Farm Bureau, serving both at the state and national level.  Eckberg has also been active at the local level, including serving on the board of the Nicollet County Farm Bureau since 1963.  He is appointed to a board position for a representative of a statewide farm organization and will serve a six-year term which ends January 3, 2011.  Eckberg was first appointed to the Center's board in 1999.

James Hoolihan, of Grand Rapids, currently serves as the president of Blandin Foundation.  He served as mayor of Grand Rapids from 1990 through 1995.  Hoolihan served as a board member of the Blandin Foundation from 1992 through 2003, and served as board chair from 1996 through 1999.  He is appointed to a board position for a representative of a private foundation and will serve a six-year term which ends January 3, 2011.  Hoolihan fills the board seat formerly held by Paul Olson. 

Kevin Kelleher, of Houston, currently serves as a Houston County Commissioner.  He was first elected to the county board in 1990, and took office in 1991.  Kelleher operates a 214-acre sheep farm in Houston.  He is a board member for the National Association of Counties and is active in the Association of Minnesota Counties.  Kelleher is appointed to a board position for a representative of rural county government and will serve a six-year term which ends January 3, 2011.  He was first appointed to the Center's board in 1997. 

Sherry Ristau, of Hutchinson, is the president of the Southwest Minnesota Foundation, one of six regional initiative organizations in Minnesota.  She currently serves as a member of the Hutchinson Area Health Care Board, the National Council on Foundations Membership Committee, and the Regional Economic Development (RED) Leadership Group.  Ristau is appointed to a board position for a representative of a regional initiative organization and will serve a six-year term which ends January 3, 2011.  She replaces Tom Renier on the board.

The Center for Rural Policy and Development, based in St. Peter, Minn., is a non-partisan, not-for-profit policy research organization focused on rural issues.  The Center's board is made up of 20 members, including twelve members appointed by the Governor.