A humble and thankful Tom Vilsack was sworn in Friday morning as the first Democratic governor of Iowa in 30 years.

Vilsack gave a brief inaugural address in front of a joint session of Iowa’s Congress and many different state and federal government officials.

“Today is a day of passages in the state of Iowa, as we inaugurate a new administration and look forward to the dawning of a new millennium,” Vilsack said. “It is a day to look forward to the challenges and opportunities before us, to take stock of who we are and where we are and to take aim at where we want to go.”

Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson also spoke of the future of the state in her address. She announced that she will volunteer once a week throughout the state in various public service organizations and urged everyone to volunteer.

“Iowa has many willing hands,” Pederson said. “Together we can create the Iowa of our dreams.”

Vilsack began his speech by showing his appreciation for departing Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Joy Corning.

“Governor and Lieutenant Governor, you have led us during the best times and through some of the worst of times,” Vilsack said. “You have worked tirelessly to improve the management of state government and to diversify and strengthen the state’s economy.”

Vilsack said he has a positive outlook on Iowa’s future.

“With a sense of hope and excitement, we enter a new century with the development of a new economy not built solely on the strength of our bodies, but more on the power of our intellect,” he said. “Iowa is poised to take real advantage of that new economy and to offer businesses and industries that locate here the promise of long-term profitability built on the quality of our workers and our long-term investment in their continued education.”

Vilsack promised a continued focus on education.

“Iowa has had a long-standing tradition of excellence in education. To maintain that tradition and to build upon it for stronger Iowa families will require us to think differently about education and to be prepared to invest in it,” he said. “In Iowa, an education never ends — it is lifelong.”

Ashley Foster, an Iowa State freshman in political science, shared that optimism.

“I think he’s going to be a good change. It’s nice to see a Democrat in the governor’s house right now,” she said. “He looked pretty hopeful, and it was nice to see a fresh face saying something about Iowa.”

Building stronger communities in Iowa was another issue Vilsack mentioned in his speech.

“At the heart of our sense of community is a shared concern for each other. Today we face stern challenges to that sense of community. Everyday, dangerous drugs are shipped into our state, grown in our fields or made in our neighborhoods,” he said. “The time has come for each of us to send a strong and clear signal that we have had enough.”

Vilsack also confronted the current problems facing farmers around the state.

“With each new product comes the need for research and development, for processing and manufacturing and for marketing that creates the opportunity for high-tech, high-paying jobs in commercial centers and surrounding,” he said. “With a real commitment from all of us, today’s dream of Iowa as the food capital will build a brighter economic future in tomorrow’s Iowa.”

Stressing the importance of Iowa’s natural resources, Vilsack said Iowans must dedicate themselves to preserving the natural resources of the state.

“We must rethink what we do with our land, our water and our air. We must be good stewards and rededicate ourselves to restoring and conserving the land, to cleaning up the water and to protecting the air,” he said. “It is our natural resources that hold the key to a stronger, more prosperous Iowa.”

Throughout the address, he spoke of the future of Iowa and its people. Vilsack said he wants to keep young people in the state and maintain the values and traditions that make Iowa great.

“Let us work together for a better Iowa. … Let us make today’s dreams tomorrow’s Iowa,” he said.

Reporter Luke DeKoster contributed to this article.