Xochitl Torres Small has been confirmed as USDA’s new deputy agriculture secretary. Torres Small is a former congresswoman and the granddaughter of farmworkers who has been serving as USDA's rural development undersecretary since 2021. Her nomination was approved on the Senate floor, 84-8. She succeeds Jewel Bronaugh, who stepped down as deputy secretary earlier this year.
Jill Bramble has been tapped as the new president and CEO of the National 4-H Council, effective Aug. 18. She currently serves as the executive vice president and chief growth officer of the National 4-H Council.
Sara Neagu-Reed, IFPAThe International Fresh Produce Association has hired Sara Neagu-Reed as director of production and environmental policy. Neagu-Reed most recently worked at AmericanHort, where she was the director of advocacy and government affairs. Her career also includes stops with the California Farm Bureau and USDA.
Marie-Jose David has been named the new chief financial officer of Oatly Group, effective Oct. 1. She succeeds Christian Hanke, who had held the role since 2020. David previously held leadership positions in finance at Mars Veterinary Health International, Americas for Pandora, and L’Oreal USA.
Andrew Lauver has joined Farm Journal as the director of business development and the Trust in Food division. Lauver previously was the director of strategic alliances and programs at Leading Harvest. Before that, he was with Syngenta.
Chad Vogel has been selected to lead the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. Vogel most recently served as the associate dean of advancement for the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He also has experience as Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences senior director of development.
Renae Larson has taken a new job with General Mills as the senior planner of brand experience, performance meals and baking solutions. She previously held roles with Precision Reach and Puris.
Ivy Torres, American Feed Industry AssociationIvy Torres has joined the American Feed Industry Association team as the new global programs specialist. Torres most recently served as a manager of global programs at the U.S. Grains Council.
Stacy Zuber has joined the Illinois Soybean Association as a soil health specialist, focusing on soybean research, on-farm training, conservation and data management. Zuber brings 12 years of experience in sustainable cropping systems research. She holds a doctoral degree in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois.
The Montana Farm Bureau has brought on Karli Johnson as the new state governmental affairs and northwest regional manager. Johnson previously worked as a sales representative with Dow AgroSciences.
Samuel Saffa is the new Missouri chief of staff for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. He previously served as the director of government relations for Hy-Vee, a Midwest grocery chain.
Maury Riggan will serve as general counsel for the Biden-Harris 2024 reelection campaign. Riggan previously served at the White House National Security Council as special assistant to the president and senior director for the executive secretariat and deputy legal adviser.
Five Republican House members have been appointed to sit on the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group: GOP Reps. Pete Stauber and Brad Finstad of Minnesota, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Nick Langworthy and Claudia Tenney of New York. The mission of the group is to exchange ideas and information on national interests, including trade, national security, and resource development.
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ProEgg, a farmer-owned cooperative for egg producers, has named Jerry Wilkins as the new vice president of sales. Wilkins has more than 35 years of experience, most recently serving as the sales director at NuCal Foods Inc., an agricultural cooperative in the western United States.
Kara Adams and Rebecca Daniels have been selected as directors of FMI—The Food Industry Association’s education department. Adams most recently was a community manager at Foundant Technologies. Daniels has been with FMI since February 2019.
Robert Farnam, Colorado Cattlemen's AssociationThe Organic Trade Association's new president is Tracy Favre, the vice president of sustainability for live operations at Handsome Brook Farms. She brings 30 years of experience to the role and served on the National Organic Standards Board from 2012-2017. OTA’s also welcomed two new board members: Heidi Diestel, president of sales and marketing at Diestel Family Ranch in California, and Ed Fish, vice president and general manager of varietal solutions at Bay State Milling.
During its annual meeting, the U.S. Wheat Associates board of directors installed North Dakota farmer Jim Pellman as the new secretary-treasurer. Pellman served as a member of the board before being elected to the leadership position in February.
USDA has announced the individuals who will be a part of the 2023 class of E. Kika De La Garza Fellows. This program aims to help advance equity in professional development opportunities in the agriculture committee. To see a list of the individuals selected, click here.
Joseph Dykhuis and Pete Thomas have been added to the Swine Health Information Center's board of directors. Dykhuis is a Michigan pork producer representing the National Pork Producers Council on the SHIC Board, and Thomas serves as director of health services with Iowa Select Farms in an at-large position for the board. Dykhuis and Thomas succeed Howard Hill, a retired industry veterinarian, pork producer, and NPPC representative, and Matthew Turner, head of the JBS live pork division.
Robert Farnam now serves as the president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Farnam has served on CCA’s board of directors for the past 10 years. He succeeds Philip Anderson, outgoing CCA president. Tom Harrington has been selected as president-elect.
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