Governor Gary R. Herbert has named LuAnn Adams as commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Adams has served as Box Elder County Commissioner since 2011. She also worked 16 years as the Box Elder County Recorder/Clerk. As Box Elder County Commissioner, Adams oversaw a $30 million budget. She implemented a Business Resource Center at Utah State University, as well as the…

Kenneth D. Ayars was named chief of the Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) this week by DEM Director Andy McLeod. "Farming is an indelible part of Rhode Island's heritage and an important part of our future," said McLeod. "Ken Ayars is committed to agriculture in Rhode Island and to making the role of DEM in…

On January 9, 2014, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the nomination of Richard A. Ball as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. A native New Yorker, Mr. Ball has made a living in agriculture his entire life. His inspiration to become a farmer came from his grandparents, who were lifelong dairy farmers. At 18 years old, Mr. Ball began his career in…

Jim Barbee has worked on policy issues with both the Nevada State Board of Education and the Nevada Legislature. Barbee has served on the National FFA Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Trustees. He is a former Secondary Agriculture Educator with a certificate as a Certified Public Manager (CPM). Barbee managed millions in grant monies while a supervisor in Career and Technical…

Joseph Bartenfelder was named by Governor Larry Hogan to serve as Secretary of Agriculture on December 23, 2014. He was approved by the Senate and sworn in to office in March 2015. Mr. Bartenfelder grew up on a farm and for more than 35 years has been a full-time farmer and small businessman. His family lives on the home farm in Caroline County, and also owns and operates two other farms…

Commissioner Gary W. Black is the sixteenth Georgian to hold the office of Commissioner of Agriculture since the department’s inception in 1874. Always involved in the agricultural community, Black began his leadership roles early in his high school years when he joined the Future Farmers of America, later becoming State President of the organization. In his career, Black served 21…

Don Brown was appointed the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture by Governor John Hickenlooper in January 2015. Brown, a third-generation farmer in Yuma County, has run several successful businesses while spending most of his career managing and growing his family’s extensive farm operations. He has also been active in water conservation, energy development and technology innovation…

Chris Chinn, a fifth generation Missouri farmer from Clarence, was named Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture in January 2017 by Missouri Governor Eric R. Greitens. Director Chinn has held leadership positions in agriculture on the local, state and national level for more than 12 years, working to move the state’s agriculture industry forward. As a trailblazer in ag…

Director David T. Daniels was formally appointed Ohio Agriculture Director by Governor John R. Kasich on February 15, 2012. He is a native of Greenfield, Ohio, where he was born and raised, and where he and his family managed Daniels Brothers farm. Director Daniels brings the perspective of a family farmer, small businessman and local government official to the department. During his…

Mr. Scott Enright brings a strong background in agriculture, community building, and conflict resolution to his position. Mr. Enright has worked as a consultant for the Hawai'i Sustainable Agriculture and Renewable Energy Project project manager for ITC Water Management, cultivation and irrigation superintendent for Hamakua Sugar Company, and orchard superintendent for Kilauea Agronomics.…

The State Board of Agriculture’s appointment of Douglas Fisher as Secretary of Agriculture was approved by Governor Jon S. Corzine on Feb. 10, 2009. At the time, Mr. Fisher was serving as a member of the General Assembly. Governor Chris Christie issued a statement in January of 2010 supporting Mr. Fisher’s continued service and Governor Philip Murphy accepted the State Board of…

Governor Mark Dayton appointed Dave Frederickson to the position of Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in January 2011. Frederickson’s family roots in farming go back to 1873, and he and his wife, Kay operated a farm in Murdock for more than 20 years.  Frederickson was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1986, and was reelected to the post in 1990. He…

Doug Goehring has been North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner since April 2009 and was elected to a full, four-year term in November 2010. A third-generation family farmer, Commissioner Goehring, along with his son, Dustin, operates a 2,000-acre, no-till farm near Menoken in south central North Dakota, where they raise corn, soybeans, spring wheat, field peas, sunflowers, canola, winter…

Celia Gould was appointed Director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and assumed her post on January 2, 2007. In addition to serving as the ISDA Director, Celia is an owner/operator of a third generation farm and ranching operation, GlennDale Ranches of Buhl, Idaho. The family run operation produces commodities such as wheat, corn, hay, Black…

Sheila Harsdorf was appointed Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) by Governor Walker in November 2017. Harsdorf served in the state legislature representing northwestern Wisconsin for more than 25 years, first as a State Representative for the 30th Assembly District and most recently as a State Senator for the 10th Senate District.…

Shawn N. Jasper became the 7th Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of New Hampshire in December 2017, appointed by Governor Chris Sununu. A native of New Hampshire, Jasper’s agriculture roots are in the poultry industry where he grew up and worked in the prominent family business, Jasper Poultry Farms.  The farm, started by his grandparents, at one point was the third largest…

Jaspers has a strong background in agriculture and in government. He owns and operates a corn, soybean, alfalfa and cattle production operation in Hutchinson, McCook and Marshall counties. He has also spent seven years in agricultural retail management, working with grain, agronomy, specialty crops and precision ag technologies. Jaspers served as a state legislator from 1997-2004. He was…

Arthur J Keyes IV was appointed Director of the State Division of Agriculture on February 17, 2016.  Arthur has spent more than a decade as a farmer and small business owner in the Mat-Su and he is a tireless champion for Alaska agriculture. He grew up in Anchorage where he worked as a produce section supervisor for Carrs/Safeway. In 2003, Arthur and his wife Michelle founded the Glacier…

Mr. Killian has been a member of the Arizona Board of Regents since 2010, currently serving as chairman and previously as vice chairman and treasurer. Prior to joining ABOR, he was director of the Arizona Department of Revenue and served for 14 years in the Arizona State Legislature, including as Speaker of the House and House Majority Leader. Mr. Killian also has decades of private…

Grandson of a farmer and son of a nursery owner, John Lebeaux was sworn in as Commissioner of the Department by Governor Charlie Baker on February 6, 2015. After working at Shrewsbury Nurseries, his family’s nursery/garden center/landscaping business, while a student, John then worked for four years as an Urban Horticulturist in New York City. After rejoining the family business he…

Kent Leonhardt is a longtime farmer who began his passion for the industry by reviving a farm that had sat abandoned for over 40 years located in the western end of Monongalia County. The farm, that he still lives on today, was purchased in 1982 and started cultivating crops and raising livestock in 1997. As of 2016, the farm has grown from the original 205 acres to 380 contiguous acres.…

Dr. Jackie McClaskey was appointed secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture by Governor Sam Brownback in December 2013. McClaskey joined the Kansas Department of Agriculture as Assistant Secretary in January 2011 and served in that role until being named Deputy Secretary in July 2013. She is dedicated to serving Kansas agriculture and is personally committed to developing…

Commissioner John McMillan comes to the Department of Agriculture & Industries with a legacy of perseverance and purpose.  For six generations, his family has worked the land and enjoyed the natural resources of Alabama.  His longstanding commitment to public service, preserving the environment, and economic development make him a natural fit for the challenges he will embrace as the…

Sid Miller is serving as the 12th Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, with his first term beginning in January 2015. Commissioner Miller brings a wealth of knowledge to the Texas Department of Agriculture. He is recognized as one of the state’s most dynamic and effective conservative leaders, as well as one of the state’s staunchest defenders of constitutional freedoms. During his six…

Mike Naig grew up on a family farm in the northwest corner of the state near Cylinder, Iowa. Early in his life, Mike learned the value of hard work by helping his dad and uncle run their crop and livestock farm. He continues to be involved in the operation today.  Mike has served as Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture for Northey since September 2013. As Deputy Secretary, Mike has been…

Raymond Poe is proud to serve as the next director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Agriculture has always been a part of Raymond’s life.  He is a third generation grain farmer from Sangamon County.  Farming remains a big part of the Poe family legacy, as the next generation now farms in Sangamon County.  Beyond the field, Raymond has served as president of the Sangamon…

Adam Putnam was elected to serve as Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture on November 2, 2010, and was sworn into office on January 4, 2011. In this capacity, he is leader of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a state agency whose mission is to promote Florida agriculture, foster innovation in energy development, provide a safe and abundant food supply, manage…

Ryan grew up on his family's farm in Scott County, coming from a family that has lived in central Kentucky for over 200 years. Ryan completed three undergraduate majors and two graduate degrees in just four years at the University of Kentucky, graduating in 2006. In 2008, Harvard University awarded Ryan a full scholarship with the Zuckerman Fellows Program, which enabled him to continue…

Russell C. Redding was recently nominated by Governor Tom Wolf as the 26th Secretary of Agriculture for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Redding is the former dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College. Redding has extensive experience as a public servant, having spent more than 20 years serving Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.…

Jim Reese was appointed to the position of Secretary of Agriculture by Governor Mary Fallin and has been serving in that capacity since January 11, 2011. Jim was raised on a Wheat and Dairy farm in North Central Oklahoma where he continues to farm today. He and his wife, Margaret, have four children. He attended Deer Creek-Lamont High School, Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State…

Steven K. Reviczky was named commissioner of agriculture by Governor Dannel P. Malloy in January 2011. In announcing his selection, Governor Malloy described Steve as well known and well respected in Connecticut's agriculture community, and stated that “his leadership at the Department of Agriculture will be invaluable to thousands of family farms across our state." In his first year…

Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture on January 12, 2011, by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Secretary Ross has deep leadership experience in agricultural issues nationally, internationally, and here in California. Prior to joining CDFA, Secretary Ross was chief of staff for U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a position she accepted in…

Derek Sandison was appointed director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture by Gov. Jay Inslee effective June 15, 2015. As WSDA director, Derek oversees an agency responsible for animal health, plant inspections, food safety, fruit and grain inspection and certification, weights and measures, pesticide registration and marketing the state's agricultural products regionally…

Michael Scuse has been delegated the duties of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Alongside Secretary Vilsack, Under Secretary Scuse leads the department's charge to strengthen the agricultural landscape, sustain vibrant rural communities and create new markets that support the innovation of rural America. A lifelong Delaware farmer, Under Secretary Scuse is a champion for America's farmers…

Dr. Mike Strain, elected to serve as Commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007, was sworn into office in January 2008. Born and raised on a cattle farm in Covington, Strain is no stranger to rural life in Louisiana. He was very active in FFA and 4-H and remains involved in his family’s cattle business. After graduating Covington High School, Strain’s…

Alexis Taylor was appointed Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) by Governor Kate Brown in December 2016. As Director, she works with the governor and legislature as well as agricultural, conservation, and consumer groups to carry out the state’s agriculture policy. ODA has a three-fold mission of ensuring food safety and consumer protection, protecting natural…

Anson Tebbetts was appointed Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food, and Markets by Governor Phil Scott in January of 2017. Prior to his appointment, Tebbetts spent more than twenty years as part of the WCAX news team, serving as the station’s news director since 2009. From 2007-2009, he stepped away from his role at WCAX to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture,…

Jai Templeton was appointed by Governor Bill Haslam and sworn in as Tennessee's 37th Commissioner of Agriculture in May 2016. Prior to joining the department as Deputy Commissioner in June 2011, he served as mayor of McNairy County, leading that county's successful efforts to reduce debt and increase fund balances without raising taxes during the economic recession. He is a sixth…

Prior to joining the department, Ben served as the Deputy Under Secretary for the Marketing and Regulatory Programs Mission Area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture where he helped oversee the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. Prior to that, he served as the Chief of Staff for…

N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was raised in the Guilford County community of Browns Summit and has spent his entire career in agriculture as founder, owner and operator of Troxler Farms. Over the years, the family-owned farm has produced tobacco, wheat, vegetables and soybeans. Since taking office in 2005, Troxler has focused on developing new markets for N.C. farm products,…

Wes Ward serves as the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Arkansas. Wes was appointed to the position in March 2015 by Governor Asa Hutchinson. Wes is from the small town of Lake City in Northeast Arkansas and is a graduate of Riverside High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business with an emphasis in Agricultural Finance from Arkansas State…

Hugh Weathers of Bowman was appointed Commissioner of Agriculture in September 2004 and was first elected to a four-year term as Commissioner in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. Commissioner Weathers is a fourth generation farmer. He and his brother, Landy, own and operate Weathers Farms, a dairy operation and Weathers Trucking, a bulk milk delivery service. He is also a partner with Circle…

Steve Wellman became the 27th Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture in December 2017, after being appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts. Wellman brings a broad range of experience to the position having farmed in Nebraska for more than 30 years and also serving on various agricultural organizations and advisory committees at the federal, state and local level. Wellman owns and…

Gordon Wenk was appointed Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development by Governor Rick Snyder on March 5, 2018.  He has worked more than 35 years at MDARD, most recently as Chief Deputy Director where he had overall administrative management responsibility for all divisions. These programs include animal health, food safety, environmental issues, plant pest…

Walter E. Whitcomb is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for the LePage Administration. Commissioner Whitcomb is the co-owner of Springdale Jerseys, a 400-head dairy farm located in Waldo. The family farm sells milk to Maine processors and registered cattle to buyers nationwide. Started in 1951, the farm is now operated by his mother, Lois,…

Jeff Witte was named the director/secretary of New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) beginning May 16, 2011.  In that capacity he is also the Cabinet secretary for NMDA under Governor Susana Martinez. Mr. Witte served as the assistant director of NMDA from 1994 to 2003 when he became the director for the Office of Agricultural Biosecurity for NMDA and New Mexico State University…