Des Moines, IA (KROC-AM News) - Former Iowa Governor and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the Iowa State Lottery Headquarters this morning to collect a $150,000 Powerball prize.

Vilsack picked for regular numbers and the Powerball number for the January 22nd drawing but didn't bother to check his ticket for another 10 days. After realizing he had won a major prize, Vilsack says he shared the news with his wife, Christie, who did not believe him.

Vilsack says he plans to donate some of the winnings to his church, share some of it with his children, and pay down an outstanding mortgage. He also offered some advice to fellow lottery players.

“Sort of a word to the wise: Check your numbers. It matters,” he said. “There are different ways to win. I didn’t realize that. I honestly didn’t realize you could win by not having all of the numbers. And so people sometimes walk away from some resources and some money when they don’t check their ticket.”

Vilsack purchased the winning ticket at a Hy-Vee store in Waukee on the west edge of the Des Moines metro area.

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