View an exclusive multimedia feature of Chet Culver taking the oath of office as Governor of Iowa.

DES MOINES – Governor Chet Culver and Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge were both talking big ideas at their inaugural ceremony Friday, but their short-term goals were also discussed.

A light snow fell on the capital as Culver and Judge took their oaths of office before a joint meeting of the Iowa Legislature convened at Wells Fargo Arena. The newly installed executives made the theme of “One Iowa” their centerpiece as they laid out their agenda for the next four years.

“This administration will be about big dreams, my friends and big ideas,” Judge said.

Culver echoed Judge’s optimism in his own speech, citing Iowa’s pioneering history as a model for the leadership role he said Iowa should take in the future.

“It’s our time to accept the challenge, to explore and discover Iowa’s unlimited potential,” Culver said.

A primary push of the address was continued support for the bioeconomy. Culver echoed his campaign mantra of making Iowa the “Silicon Valley of the Midwest” and called for the creation of an Iowa Power Fund to promote research in agriculture.

“There is an energy frontier open before us, and we must explore it immediately. America and the world are counting on us,” Culver said.

The new governor also established full education, health and fiscal agendas.

He called for expansion of early childhood education, raising teacher salary to the national average, controlling the cost of college and creating jobs to retain recent graduates.

“It’s time to create the jobs of the future that will keep your children and my children here at home, where they belong,” Culver said.

Lifting the ban on stem cell research was the clear crowd favorite of a health agenda which also included supporting children’s health care and increasing the state tobacco tax. Financially, Culver asked for a raise of the minimum wage as well as lowering some property taxes and maintaining a balanced budget.

The new governor also took a moment to recognize his predecessor, former Gov. Tom Vilsack, who gave his last address to the Iowa Legislature on Tuesday before devoting attention to his run for the presidency.

“You have done an incredible job,” Culver said. “We are grateful for that.”

Culver concluded his address by calling on all Iowans to “harness every bit of potential that we have.”

“A governor can’t do it alone,” Culver said. “That’s why today I am asking you to help.”