Dan Newhouse, the new state Agriculture director, made his first official visit to Yakima today.

We caught up with him at the W.L. Hansen Building, where he was meeting with ag folks who’ve been putting together a 14-month visioning and strategic plan for agriculture.

On the job for just seven weeks, Newhouse has stayed fairly close to Olympia because the Legislature is in session. But he’s been home on weekends to be with the family and catch up on the family’s 600-acre farm near Sunnyside that includes tree fruits, hops, grapes and alfalfa.

And he’s found time to make a visit to Whatcom and Skagit counties where he learned about tulips and blueberries.

The 53-year-old former legislator and son of a longtime lawmaker, the late Irv Newhouse, said he agonized over taking the job when Gov. Chris Gregoire approached him.

He even wrote down the pros and cons of leaving the Legislature after four terms to lead the industry’s regulatory agency.

“The pros won out,” said Newhouse. “I haven’t looked back. It was the right decision.”

He said he was honored to be asked by Gregoire and figured the new job would be a good opportunity for him to bring a Republican perspective to the administration.

“Opportunities come along when you least expect them. You have to be willing to take them when they come,” he said.

-- David Lester