By Jamie Martin
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a new slate of Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) state leaders. Their mission is to carry out federal farm and rural programs, prioritize small family farms, and expand economic opportunities in rural America.
Maryland and Delaware RD will be led by Paul D. Ellington, an advisor to rural governments and nonprofits, while George Turner becomes Maryland FSA State Executive Director after more than four decades with the agency. Minnesota RD welcomes Mick Ditlevson, a fifth-generation farmer with federal leadership experience.
New Hampshire appoints Jeffrey Holmes, a fifth-generation farmer and former NH FSA executive director, to lead FSA. New Jersey names Robert Andrzejczak, a Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart recipient and former legislator, as FSA State Executive Director.
In New Mexico, ranching-rooted policy expert Zach Riley becomes FSA State Executive Director. Oklahoma selects Eddie Fields to lead FSA and Zac Swartz to lead RD, combining agricultural production, ethics oversight, policy, and economic development backgrounds.
Oregon’s FSA is led by fourth-generation farmer and local leader Tootie Smith. Texas appoints Dan Hunter to head FSA, drawing on commodity board and academic research leadership, and James Redfield to direct RD with experience in agriculture, housing, and legislative affairs.
Utah names sixth-generation producer Susan Larson to lead FSA. Virginia appoints Beth Walker Green as RD State Director, returning with prior RD leadership and state agricultural policy experience. West Virginia selects long-serving FSA leader Keith Richmond, and Wyoming appoints rancher and former state agriculture official Laurie Boner to lead FSA.
Together, these directors will strengthen program delivery, expand access to services, and support resilient farms and rural communities.
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