#WorkInAg

“Growing up on my family’s fourth generation dairy farm uniquely informed my perspective to my work as I understood the gap between the producer and the consumer from an early age,” Itle said. “I have worked as a producer, a private veterinarian, a livestock market veterinarian, a regulatory field veterinarian and a foreign animal disease diagnostician. Now as the Washington State Veterinarian, my position exists at the intersection of these roles, uniquely positioned at the juncture of producers, practitioners and consumers in communities statewide.”

Learn more from Dr. Itle about why she is proud to work in agriculture.

“I think the best thing ultimately about working in the ag sector is you know that the work you do every single day is going to benefit people. Certainly in your community and in your state, but ultimately across the world as well as you help move forward the food and fiber supply for everyone.”

Learn more from Secretary Arthur about why she is proud to work in agriculture.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Plant Industry Services Program Manager David Gianino shares about his role in the agriculture industry and why he is proud to work in agriculture.

“The communications officers at state departments of agriculture serve at the intersection of challenging decision-making, compassion, and culture. We play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the agricultural world and the rest of society. We translate the immense complexities of agriculture and agricultural policy into accessible information for our stakeholders and the public. Farmers and communities deserve this support, especially from their state agencies.”

In this opinion piece, Jim Britt, president of the Communications Officers of State Departments of Agriculture and director of communications at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, discusses how communicators bridge the gap between the agricultural world and the rest of society.

The commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture are government officials responsible for the administration, regulation and promotion of agricultural activities in their state. While responsibilities vary from state to state, all help shape agricultural policies to benefit not only farmers and ranchers, but also those who consume their products. As part of NASDA’s campaign to highlight careers in agriculture, NASDA recently caught up with NASDA President Wyoming Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto to delve further into his responsibilities as a state agriculture director.

As part of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s recent campaign to highlight careers in agriculture, NASDA sat down with Stephen Benjamin, the director of standards division at North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to learn more about his department, his role and how weights and measures regulations benefit Americans nationwide.