Gary Tauchen (born November 23, 1953) is an American

dairy A dairy is a place where milk is stored and where butter, cheese, and other dairy products are made, or a place where those products are sold. It may be a room, a building, or a larger establishment. In the United States, the word may also des ...

farmer and Republican politician. He was a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

, representing the 6th Assembly district from 2007 through 2022. The 6th district comprised most of Shawano County along with northwestern Outagamie County and neighboring towns in eastern Waupaca County.

Early life and career

Born in

Rice Lake, Wisconsin Rice Lake is a city in Barron County, Wisconsin, Barron County in northwest Wisconsin, United States, on the shore of Rice Lake (Barron County, Wisconsin), the lake with the same name. The city is a commercial and tourist center for the surround ...

, Tauchen graduated from Bonduel High School in 1971. He briefly attended the

University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved st ...

and received his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

animal science Animal science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of humankind". It can also be described as the production and management of farm animals. Historically, the degree was called animal husbandry and the ...

from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. In 1976, in partnership with his father, Herb, and brother, Alan, Tauchen started Tauchen's Harmony Valley Farm, which he still co-owns and operates with his parents and his two surviving brothers. Today, the farm has around 1200 milking cows and raises crops on nearly 2500 acres. Through his farm business, Tauchen became involved in a number of farm and conservation councils in Wisconsin. He was chairman of the Shawano Farm Bureau and the Wisconsin Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative, and chaired Governor

Tommy Thompson Tommy George Thompson (born November 19, 1941) is an American politician who served as the 19th United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2001 to 2005 in the Presidency of George W. Bush, cabinet of President of the United State ...

's Dairy 20/20 Council.

Political career

In April 2006, State Representative John Ainsworth announced he would not seek reelection to another term. A few weeks later, in an event at his family farm, Tauchen announced he would be a candidate for

in the seat vacated by Ainsworth. Ultimately, four other candidates also joined the Republican

primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Work ...

in the heavily Republican district, though one candidate, Paul Mogged, would drop out before the primary to endorse Tauchen. Tauchen was also endorsed by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau—a lobbying organization for farming interests. Tauchen prevailed in the primary, receiving a majority of the votes in the four-way contest. In the general election, Tauchen defeated Democrat Richard Lieffring, a teacher from

Cecil, Wisconsin Cecil is a village in Shawano County, Wisconsin, Shawano County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 529 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History The village was named after a railroad man, Cecil Leavitt when the railroad w ...

, taking 60% of the vote. Tauchen has subsequently been reelected seven times. Tauchen currently serves as chairman of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture and also serves on the Assembly committees on Energy and Utilities, on State Affairs, and on Tourism. On January 21, 2021, he announced that he would not seek re-election.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2006–2020)

References

External links

* *
Campaign Website (Archived 11/2/2018)

Representative Gary Tauchen
at

Wisconsin Legislature The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republ ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tauchen, Gary 1953 births Living people People from Rice Lake, Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly University of Wisconsin–River Falls alumni 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature