Dennis C. Wolff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denny Wolff | |
|---|---|
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| 24th Secretary of Agriculture of Pennsylvania | |
| In office May 5, 2003 – December 16, 2009 | |
| Governor | Ed Rendell |
| Preceded by | Samuel Hayes |
| Succeeded by | Russell Redding |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 9, 1951 Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Josey |
Dennis C. "Denny" Wolff (born September 9, 1951) is an American farmer, non-profit founder, and former public official who was the 2018 Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's (newly re-drawn) 9th Congressional District. Wolff is a former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where he served in the cabinet of Governor Edward G. Rendell. Wolff is also the founder and president of The Nicholas Wolff Foundation, a non-profit which operates as Camp Victory, a summer camp for chronically ill children and their families.
Wolff is the owner of Pen-Col Farms, based in Millville, Pennsylvania. He is a fifth-generation Pennsylvania dairy farmer and began his own farming operation in 1970. Wolff started in a rented farm with thirty-five Holstein cows and grew[when?] into an operation which spanned several farms and included over 500 Holsteins. From 1970 through the early 2000s, Pen-Col Farms operated a dairy store just outside of Millville. Pen-Col Farms began operating internationally in the 1980s.
Camp Victory
Wolff is the president and chairman of the board of directors of Camp Victory, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[1] In 1984, Wolff's youngest son, Nicholas, was born with a rare liver disease, biliary atresia. Nicholas spent the first two years of his life in and out of hospitals until receiving a life-saving liver transplant in 1986 at the University of Minnesota. Wolff donated 35 acres of land to start a camp for chronically ill children. The camp hosted in first campers in 1994.[2][better source needed]
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
Ed Rendell, the governor of Pennsylvania, appointed Wolff to be his Secretary of Agriculture, a cabinet-level appointment, in January 2003.[3] He was confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate later that year.[4] Wolff was involved in the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, the largest indoor agricultural exhibit in the United States.[5]
During his time leading the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Wolff implemented several programs intended to promote the agriculture industry. He set up the Center for Dairy Excellence, which "was created to develop and support programs for both the Center for Dairy Excellence and other Pennsylvania dairy organizations which educate, cultivate, and inspire a thriving and sustainable Pennsylvania dairy industry."[6] Wolff implemented the "PA Preferred" program, a branding program to promote Pennsylvania agricultural products.
Wolff set up the "PA Grows" program, which helps agribusinesses in Pennsylvania obtain low-rate financing necessary to begin, continue or expand their operations.[7]
Wolff resigned in 2009 and was succeeded by Russell Redding.[8] After Wolff stepped down from his role as Secretary, Governor Tom Corbett signed state House Bill 1424 in 2011, making PA Preferred the permanent branding program of agricultural commodities produced in Pennsylvania.[9]
