Articles by Lydia Johnson

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation announced its Class 55 ag leadership fellows. Jill Sperling was appointed California state FFA adviser and state supervisor of agricultural education. The California Walnut Board announced a new board of directors. 

Ivy Brittain, formerly with the Northern California Water Association, joined The Plastics Industry Association as regional director of state government affairs. Kate Folmar was appointed chief of strategic communications at the California High-Speed Rail Authority. 

Amid central Iowa's lush green cornfields, NASCAR drivers and fans gathered around the “fastest short track on the planet” for The Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, a Cup Series race spotlighting the fuel powering the sport. 

Danielle Beck joined the Corn Refiners Association and Plant Based Products Council as vice president of government relations. The American Soybean Association hired Madelyn Derks as a director of government affairs overseeing ASA’s regulatory portfolio. The American Peanut Council named Luke Blaustein president and CEO. 

The American Feed Industry Association hired Cornelia Poku as director of communications. The Farmers National Company Board of Directors appointed Paul Schadegg as president. The Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council named Casey Wasser as the new chief executive office and executive director. The National Telecommunications Industry Association hired Mollie Timmons as senior adviser for public affairs. 

Derek Barchenger, head of the Global Pepper Breeding Program at the World Vegetable Center, was named the 2025 recipient of the Norman E. Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application for his global leadership in pepper breeding. 

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Saturday that she will have a major announcement next week in the battle against New World Screwworm, the flesh-eating pest that has been moving up from Central America through Mexico, forcing the periodic suspension of U.S. livestock imports.

No exemptions for coffee as tariffs on Brazil go into effect.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., hired John Watts as counsel covering environmental protection, public lands and natural resources. Lori Fulton retired from the University of California Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.  

The California Milk Advisory Board hired Selina Lopes as producer relations coordinator. A recent graduate of Oklahoma State University, she was an agriculture support specialist at Modesto Junior College in California. The International Fresh Produce Association reorganized its food safety and regulatory teams to strengthen produce safety and food safety policy work. Wayne Honeycutt, founding president and chief executive officer of the Soil Health Institute, will retire in early 2026.

The International Fresh Produce Association announced a reorganization of its food safety and regulatory teams aimed at strengthening the group’s work in produce safety and food safety policy. Wayne Honeycutt, founding president and chief executive officer of the Soil Health Institute, announced that he will retire in early 2026. 

Mark Wilson of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board was elected chairman of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council board of directors. Terry Griffin, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, was appointed to the White House’s Space Weather Advisory Group. Phillip Farmer launched his own business PTK Advisors. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., hired John Watts as counsel covering environmental protection, public lands and natural resources issues.

Duda expanded the sales team by hiring Roger Moncada as director of western sales and Steve Bindas as director of outside sales. The Northern California Water Association hired Clarissa “Kam” Bezdek as a legislative affairs director. Former Biotechnology Innovation Organization staff member Beth Ellikidis joined Syngenta as director of federal affairs

California energy policy leader Robert Weisenmiller died July 14 after a brief illness. Ryan French joined Scanit Technologies as senior lead for sales and market development. Former Dairy West CEO Karianne Fallow joined AARP as Idaho state director. 

Former Biotechnology Innovation Organization vice president Beth Ellikidis joined Syngenta as director of federal affairs. Former Senate Ag Committee staffer Darin Guries will join the Futures Industry Association as vice president of U.S. government relations. Quivira hired former Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small as executive director. Reed Middleton joined Monument Advocacy as a government relations manager on the food and agriculture team.

Longtime U.S. Cattlemen’s Association lobbyist Lia Biondo passed away unexpectedly on July 24. The Pet Food Institute promoted Atalie Ebersole to vice president of government relations and Dana Waters to director of international affairs. The Northeast Dairy Producers Association hired Allyson Jones-Brimmer as executive director. Former U.S. Agency for International Development staff member Grace Burton joined the Farm Journal Foundation as director of government affairs.