Balanced Reporting. Trusted Insights. Saturday, June 06, 2026

Items Tagged with 'Alec Varsamis'

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Farm Hands on the Potomac: USDA communications shakeup, IDFA hires Youker and Wilson, Yates departs AFBF for Farm Credit Bank of Texas

06/03/26 6:00 AM By Lydia Johnson and Grace Miller
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The Agriculture Department named a new communications team. The International Dairy Foods Association added two staff members: Darrin Youker as director of state government relations and Cal Wilson as manager of government affairs. Ryan Yates joined Farm Credit Bank of Texas as senior vice president of government relations. Carlye Winfrey was promoted to professional staff on the Senate Ag Committee. Bill Davis joined Zoetis as the senior director and head of U.S. federal and state affairs. 


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Farm Hands West: Pattiz joins CALF board, Cook appointed California and PSW EPA administrator

03/26/25 7:00 AM By Lydia Johnson
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The California Ag Leadership Foundation added Davidson Pattiz, CEO of Zenith Insurance Company, as a board member. Marla Livengood was named Cal Cities’ regional public affairs manager for the Central Valley Division. 

President Trump appointed Josh F.W. Cook as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in California and the Pacific Southwest. Wilbur Ellis promoted Kayla Allen to senior credit analyst.


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Farm Hands on the Potomac: House Ag Committee staff changes, Varsamis rejoins USDA

03/26/25 6:00 AM By Lydia Johnson
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USDA named Alec Varsamis deputy communications director. A veteran of the first Trump administration, he was press secretary and acting communications director for then-Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue. Since then, Versamis has worked at agencies Ketchum and Veno Group in account supervisor roles focused on agriculture, food and ingredients as well as crisis and issue management communications. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco. 


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