Havemeister out as state Ag director

WASILLA — Gov. Bill Walker announced on Friday that he’s replacing Franci Havemeister as director of the Alaska Division of Agriculture.

Havemeister, of Palmer, has served in the role for eight years. She’ll stay on through the first week of next month, during which time the Board of Agriculture will search for a new director.

“Alaska’s agricultural landscape is ripe with potential, and I look forward to new leadership implementing a fresh vision to maximize these opportunities,” Walker said in a Friday press release. “I thank Director Havemeister for working with the department through this transition period.”

While the announcement came suddenly, Havemeister said she has known for about three weeks that Gov. Walker wanted to go in a different direction.

“I serve at the governor’s pleasure,” she said.

Havemeister said Walker’s decision was “bittersweet.”

“I’ve been in this job for eight years and it is a difficult job so part of me is very sad to go and part of me is looking forward to going in another direction,” she said Friday.

With the upcoming legislative session looming, Havemeister said she won’t miss the back-and-forth budget battles in Juneau.

“Not having the pressure of the session looming over with be nice,” she said.

Havemeister was picked for the job in 2007 by then-Gov. Sarah Palin. A lifelong Alaska resident, Havemeister’s in-laws helped colonize the Matanuska Valley in the 1930s. The family's dairy farm continues to operate in the Valley today.

She said on Friday that she believes the department under her direction has done a good job of promoting Alaska agriculture and helping to grow the Alaska brand.

“I think our best accomplishment was putting in place the staff that I have right now,” she said.

She said she's hopeful the incoming director will continue to work to promote Alaska's agricultural goods both inside and outside the state.

"Hopefully we'll see more marketing of Alaska-grown products," she said.

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Myers thanked Havemeister for her service.

“We thank her for the contributions she made to the department and to the state’s agricultural community," Myers said in Friday's press release.

A mother of four, Havemeister said she’s expecting her eighth, ninth and 10th grandchildren to arrive in the coming weeks, including a set of twins. She’s also got a vacation planned in January with her husband, Bob, and said family time will be a priority in the coming months.

“The holidays are a great time to have off,” aid Havemeister, whose last day will be Friday, Dec. 4. “I’m definitely looking forward to December 5.”

While she said her immediate plans are to spend more time with her family, Havemeister didn’t rule out a possible return to state government.

“I’ll maybe look at some sort of public office down the road,” she said.

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected from its original print version, which stated Havemeister took over from Tom Irwin. Irwin was commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources when Havemeister was named director of the Division of Agriculture.

Contact Matt Tunseth at news@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.