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The Western States Petroleum Association hired Jim Stanley as director of media relations. Leia Bailey was appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Patricia Lock Dawson of Riverside was appointed to the California Air Resources Board.

Rural Investment to Protect our Environment named Minnesota farmer Alana Petersen as president. The American Veterinary Medical Association hired Paul Gage as director of the federal government relations division. 

Bryce McWilliams joined the office of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., as a legislative assistant covering agriculture issues. Gary Wheeler resigned as CEO and executive director of Missouri Soybeans for personal reasons effective immediately. Jack Long joined the office of Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., as a legislative assistant covering agriculture issues. 

The Agri-Pulse team took home a number of high-profile reporting awards from this year's North American Agricultural Journalists annual competition.

Marc DeBernardi was named the 2024-25 California Ag Educator of the Year and the Golden Owl Award recipient. She is an agriculture educator and FFA adviser at Santa Maria High School. Along with recognition at the California FFA State Leadership Conference, she received a $3,000 donation to support ag education at her school. Additional finalists included: Carrie Phillips from Altaville-Bret Harte FFA, Lori Porter of Livermore FFA, Vernon Clark of Bakersfield-Foothill FFA, Krystal Thomas of San Marcos FFA and Jim Shanks of Dorris Butte Valley FFA. 

The Family Farm Alliance named Samantha Barncastle executive director effective Nov. 1. Josh Stull joined the House Agriculture Committee Republican staff covering rural development and energy issues. Hilmar named Greg Schlafer as CEO.

The Department of Interior named Andrew Williams deputy director of congressional affairs in the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. Justin Rhee also joined the department as a special adviser to Secretary Burgum. 

The Port of Oakland hired Andre Basler to fill a newly-created director of operations position. Rack & Riddle, the largest custom sparkling wine producer in the U.S., hired Jeff Tuttle as CEO.

Fair Trade USA named Felipe Arango CEO.  

The Agriculture Department announced a slate of new political appointments, including many names familiar to the food and agriculture community: Trey Forsyth, Kelsey Barnes, Bill Beam and Tucker Stewart, among others. 

The National Corn Growers Association hired Gretchen Kuck as an economist. John Stewart was promoted to senior adviser of government affairs at Elanco. Mark Sanborn joined the Environmental Protection Agency as a regional administrator in Boston. 

The Trump administration has named Jaye Hamby director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and appointed new policy advisers, chiefs of staff for four USDA mission areas, and senior personnel for communications and external relations.

The Agricultural Council of California elected new executive committee members. Melissa Frank, assistant general counsel at The Wonderful Company was named chair. The California Chamber of Commerce hired Rana Ghadban as vice president of small business advocacy.

CropLife America hired Annemarie Pender as senior director of strategic communications. Landus president and CEO Matt Carstens abruptly stepped down on Friday, April 4.

Combest, Sell & Associates hired Sydney Lundberg as a staff economist based in Washington D.C. National Pork Board CEO Bill Even will leave his position on May 1 after nine years leading the organization. John Hendrix was promoted to legislative assistant on the House Agriculture Committee majority staff.