Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Theodore F. Brenny and Sarah Kern to the Minnesota Rural Finance Authority. Both are appointed to four-year terms that expire on January 6, 2014.

Brenny, of Mazeppa, is an agriculture loan officer with Security State Bank of Wanamingo, a position he has held since 2008. Previously, he was an associate tax and accounting consultant with AgStar Financial Services in Rochester and an associate tax and accounting specialist with AgStar in Waite Park. He has also been a farm assistant with Schafer Dairy in Zumbrota, an artificial insemination relief breeder with Minnesota Select Sires in St. Cloud, and a dairy herd manager with Brenny Dairy in Rice. Brenny earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from St. Cloud State University, and a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Brenny replaces Lisa Heggedahl on the Rural Finance Authority.

Kern, of Eden Valley, is a farm loan officer with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency in Benson. Previously, she was a program technician with the USDA Farm Service Agency in Litchfield, and interned with the McLeod County Extension Service in Hutchinson and Prairie Road Crop Consulting in Hutchinson. Kern earned her bachelor of arts degree in agriculture industries and marketing summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota. She held leadership positions with Valley Victors 4-H and supervised youth activities with the University of Minnesota Extension Office. Kern replaces Gary Pawlitschek on the Rural Finance Authority.

The Minnesota Rural Finance Authority offers a variety of loan programs through participating lenders. These loan programs help new farmers purchase agricultural land, expand livestock production, make physical improvements to farm operations, or invest in a Minnesota value-added farmer owned cooperative. The authority also operates the Aggie Bond program. The authority is made up of 11 members, including six public members appointed by the Governor.