Gov. Mark Sanford has appointed Bowman dairy farmer Hugh Weathers as agriculture commissioner.

Weathers, already serving on an interim basis, would complete the two years of the term of Charles Sharpe, who resigned after pleading guilty this month to extortion.

Sharpe admitted in federal court he took $10,000 to protect a cockfighting organization from legal trouble.

Weathers had been named by Sanford in September as interim commissioner after Sharpe was indicted in July.

Weathers is co-owner of Weathers Farms Inc., a 50-cow dairy operation in Bowman.

Contributing: The Associated Press