Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has appointed a state legislator as acting agriculture secretary.

Rep. Joshua Svaty, an Ellsworth Democrat, will

replace Adrian Polansky, who’s leaving to take over the federal

Farm Service Agency in Kansas.

Svaty, 29, has served in the Kansas House since 2003. In making

the appointment, Parkinson noted that Svaty is the fifth generation

in his family to farm in the state.

Polanksy’s last day in the state job is Friday.