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Farm Hands on the Potomac: McKeon to lead Soil Health Institute, Houston joins AFBF, Klobuchar names press secretary

05/27/26 6:00 AM By Lydia Johnson
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The American Farm Bureau Federation is adding Virginia Houston as senior director of government affairs. Ashley McKeon was named president and CEO of the Soil Health Institute. Austin Matheny-Kawesch is now press secretary for Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

KEYWORDS Amir Golan Anne Todgham Ashley McKeon Austin Matheny-Kawesch Environmental Defense Fund Frank Mitloehner Gary Huddleston Glenn Brunkow Hyrum Egbert Jesi Strohbehn Jess Davis Jessica Morse Joe Buccino Kansas Farm Bureau Kelly Scavella Lucas Szabo Lynette Tucker Mark Walker Michael Mienaltowski Olivia Shelton Olivia Shepard Parul Bajaj Randy Romanski Tyler Uhe USDA Vera Mackyntoich Virginia Houston
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Lydia Johnson
Associate Editor