Staff Changes at Rural and at Farm Bureau

Thursday, October 25, 2007 11:07 AM CDT

Tom Thieding, the executive director of public relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation for the past 16 years, is taking a new job with an affiliate company of WFBF.

In his new role, Thieding will be the director of marketing services for Rural Mutual Insurance Companies. Thieding expects to utilize his relationships with the media and agricultural organizations in the state to grow its partnership with those groups and WFBF. He also expects to increase the successful marketing of Rural's products and services.

While at WFBF, Thieding won several awards from the American Farm Bureau for excellence in media training, issues management, website design, newspaper design and video production. He also developed the WFBF's popular Market Basket retail food price survey to help consumers become more aware of agriculture.

Thieding currently serves on the Wisconsin State Fair Agriculture Committee, the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Board and the National Agri-Marketing Association Badger Chapter Board.

A 1986 graduate of UW-Platteville, Thieding earned a degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting. He started his career as news director at WTOQ radio station in Platteville and then went to Washington D.C. as press secretary and legislative assistant for former Wisconsin Congressman Steve Gunderson.

At WFBF

Casey Langan has been named the new director of public relations at WFBF, replacing Thieding.

In addition to managing the media relations functions or the organization, Langan will assist in the governmental relations activities of WFBF.

Langan brings to his new position a strong background in both journalism and politics. He has served as country editor for the Daily Jefferson County Union and as regional editor for The Country Today newspapers. Most recently he was a legislative assistant for State Representatives Debi Towns and Jeff Mursau.

He has served on the board of trustees for the Edgerton Hospital and Health Services and was festival organizer for Edgerton Tobacco Days.

Langan is a 1996 graduate of UW-Whitewater and is a graduate of the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program.

Both Thieding and Langan will assume their new positions in November.

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