Ralph Peck has served as Director of the Montana Department of Agriculture for nine years having been reappointed by Governor Judy Martz on January 2, 2001 after serving as Director under Governor Marc Racicot. A Montana native, Ralph, was born in Lewistown and raised on his family's farm near Garneill. Ralph attended Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Management Finance and Marketing and a Master's degree in Agricultural Business and Economics.

Ralph's experience includes Comptroller and Assistant Vice President of Econ, Incorporated, an ecological consulting service prior to his appointment as Director of the Department of Agriculture.

Ralph serves as a board member of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and is past President of the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture (WASDA). He is past President of the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA). Ralph received the Outstanding Agriculturalist 2000 award presented by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University – Bozeman for his leadership in agriculture, Friend of Farm Bureau for dedicated service to Agriculture 2000 and is a past recipient of Montana's Governor's Award of Excellence. He is past Chairman of the U.S./Canada Trade Accord working group and has accepted Chairmanship of again for 2003\2004. He has been appointed to serve on Montana's Capital Finance Advisory Council and various agricultural related committees and councils.