Ed Schafer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed Schafer
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Official portrait, 2008
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| Acting President of the University of North Dakota | |
| In office January 14, 2016 – July 1, 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Kelley |
| Succeeded by | Mark Kennedy |
| 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office January 28, 2008 – January 20, 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Mike Johanns |
| Succeeded by | Tom Vilsack |
| 30th Governor of North Dakota | |
| In office December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000 |
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| Lieutenant | Rosemarie Myrdal |
| Preceded by | George A. Sinner |
| Succeeded by | John Hoeven |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edward Thomas Schafer
August 8, 1946 Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Jones |
| Children | 2 2 stepchildren |
| Education | University of North Dakota (BA) University of Denver (MBA) |
Edward Thomas Schafer, born on August 8, 1946, is an American businessman and politician. He was the 30th Governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000. He also served as the 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2008 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. Later, from January to July 2016, he was the temporary president of the University of North Dakota.
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Early Life and Family
Ed Schafer grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota. His father, Harold Schafer, was a well-known businessman. Ed has one sister named Pamela.
He went to the University of North Dakota and earned a bachelor's degree in 1969. He then received his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from the University of Denver in 1970.
Schafer is married to Nancy Jones. They have two children, Thomas and Ellie. He also has two stepchildren, Eric and Kari.
Gold Seal Company: A Family Business
After college, Schafer joined his family's business, the Gold Seal Company. His father founded this manufacturing company in North Dakota in 1942.
Gold Seal made popular products like "Mr. Bubble" bubble bath and "Glass Wax" cleaner. Ed Schafer worked his way up in the company. He served as its president from 1978 to 1985. Gold Seal was one of North Dakota's largest private businesses.
TV Show Contestant: Junkyard Wars
Ed Schafer has always enjoyed building things from old, used materials. This interest led him to be a contestant on the Discovery Channel show Junkyard Wars. On the show, teams built machines using only junk parts.
In 2003, Schafer was the captain of the "High Flyers" team. His team placed second in the competition.
Governor of North Dakota (1992-2000)
Schafer was elected as the 30th governor of North Dakota twice. He held the office from 1992 to 2000. He is a member of the Republican Party.
When he became governor, North Dakota faced some financial challenges. Schafer worked to manage the state's budget. He oversaw state budgets that were more than $4.5 billion each year. He also managed a state workforce of over 12,000 employees.
Growing North Dakota's Economy
As governor, Schafer focused on expanding North Dakota's economy. He worked with businesses to increase the production of farm products. For example, he helped grow the production of corn sweeteners and pasta.
He also helped build stronger trade ties with China. These efforts helped China become a major buyer of North Dakota's products.
Bringing the Internet to North Dakota
During his time as governor, the internet became widely available. Schafer saw the importance of internet access for everyone in North Dakota. He worked with leaders to improve the state's communication systems. This helped bring high-speed internet to farms, ranches, businesses, and homes.
In 1995, Schafer was the chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association. He was reelected as governor in 1996.
Protecting Natural Lands
Schafer cared deeply about protecting nature. He helped the U.S. Forest Service buy the 5,200-acre Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota. This ranch was once owned by former President Theodore Roosevelt. It is now part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Schafer did not run for governor again in 2000.
Work and Public Service in the 2000s
After leaving the governor's office, Schafer co-founded a wireless communication company called Extend America.
In 2002, he was appointed as a civilian advisor to the United States Secretary of the Army. He also often hosted a radio show called Hot Talk on WDAY-AM.
Before becoming Secretary of Agriculture, Schafer advised the North Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity. This is a group that supports conservative ideas.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (2008-2009)
In October 2007, President George W. Bush chose Ed Schafer to be the next Secretary of Agriculture. The Senate quickly approved his nomination. He was confirmed unanimously on January 28, 2008.
Food Safety and Animal Welfare
Soon after Schafer took office, a major issue arose. It involved a meat packing company called Hallmark/Westland. This company was a big supplier of ground beef for the National School Lunch Program. There were concerns about animal treatment and food safety practices.
This led to the largest recall of meat in U.S. history. Addressing unsafe food practices and animal welfare became a main focus for Schafer's department.
Videos showed workers mistreating cattle that could not walk. Many people were concerned about using these "downer" animals for food. They worried about health and safety. The company recalled a lot of beef and closed its plant.
At first, Schafer said he would not ban "downer" cows from the food supply. However, he later changed his mind. On August 27, 2008, the USDA announced a new rule. Schafer stated that to keep people confident in the food supply, it was best to completely ban the slaughter of "downer" cattle.
The U.S. government later sued Hallmark/Westland for fraud and animal cruelty. They won a large judgment against the company. This was the biggest judgment ever for agriculture-related fraud and animal cruelty in federal court. The goal was to prevent future animal cruelty and fraud in meat processing plants.
Schafer left his position as Secretary of Agriculture in January 2009.
Interim President of the University of North Dakota (2016)
On November 9, 2015, Ed Schafer was chosen to be the temporary president of the University of North Dakota. He said he did not plan to become the permanent president. He took over after the previous president retired on January 14, 2016.
Some university faculty members were not happy with his selection. They felt he lacked experience in leading a research university. Schafer's background was mainly in business and politics.
Despite this, Schafer became the highest-paid administrator in the state's higher education system at that time. He was paid $33,216 per month.
The Fighting Sioux Name Change
One of Schafer's important tasks was to oversee the final stages of the Fighting Sioux naming issue. This issue involved objections from various groups about the university's use of the Sioux name for its sports teams.
On his first day, a team began reviewing ideas for a new logo. Five months later, Schafer revealed the new logo for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. He called it a "historic moment."
On March 15, 2016, Mark Kennedy was chosen as the next permanent president. Kennedy's term began on July 1, 2016.
Electoral History
- 1996 Race for Governor
- Ed Schafer (Republican) (incumbent), 66%
- Lee Kaldor (Democrat), 34%
- 1992 Race for Governor
- Ed Schafer (Republican), 58%
- Nick Spaeth (Democrat), 41%
- 1990 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - At Large
- Byron Dorgan (Democrat) (incumbent), 65%
- Ed Schafer (Republican), 35%
