Charles M. Kuperus has a long history of leadership among both the agricultural community and in his home town. He has served on the New Jersey Farm Bureau Board of Directors and served as vice-president of the organization in addition to his membership in the American Farm Bureau Federation. He served as president and vice president of the Sussex County Board of Agriculture and as a member of its Board of Directors.

A strong advocate of planned growth, Kuperus was a member of the State Planning Commission. He chaired the Plan Development Committee, which interfaced with county and state representatives in planning initiatives and was responsible for updating the State Plan that was adopted in March 2001. He is the recipient of an award from the New Jersey Association of Planning Officials for individual achievement in planning.

Kuperus's community service includes two terms as a Sussex Borough Councilman, including a term as Council president. During these terms, he was instrumental in planning and implementing upgrades to the potable water and wastewater systems. In addition, he served as a commissioner on the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) and as chairman of the wastewater committee.

Immediately prior to his selection as Secretary of Agriculture, Kuperus served as Director of the Sussex County Board of Freeholders to which he was elected in 2000. A lifelong resident of Sussex, New Jersey, Kuperus and and his wife Marge live on the family farm with their four sons and two daughters.