SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced Wednesday he appointed Kelly Pehrson as interim manager of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food following the announcement that Kerry Gibson resigned to run for Congress.
Pehrson most recently served as deputy director of the agency, with oversight over budgets, human resources and other administrative affairs.
“I’m grateful to Commissioner Gibson for his service to the state, and I respect his decision to run for office,” Herbert said. “I’m also thankful to Kelly Pehrson for stepping into this role so that operations at the Department of Agriculture and Food can continue uninterrupted.”
Gibson, who was named agricultural commissioner in Utah in 2019, is a fifth-generation dairy farmer in Weber County who also served in the Utah Legislature and as a Weber County commissioner.
On Tuesday, he announced he is entering the race for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who is retiring.
In addition to his recent stint with the state agricultural agency, Pehrson was an administrator in San Juan County.