AFPI Launches America First Agriculture Commissioners and Secretaries Council

Washington D.C.— Following the America First Policy Institute’s (AFPI) recent launch of the Farmers First Agenda, AFPI is launching today the America First Agriculture Commissioners & Secretaries Council. The Council will prospectively bring together state commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture to inform federal, state, and local government policy recommendations that further the Farmers First Agenda.

The Council includes Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward; Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper; Idaho Director of Agriculture Chanel Tewalt; Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture Don Lamb; Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig; Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell; Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson; Nebraska Director of Agriculture Sherry Vinton; Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur; South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers; Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher D.V.M., and Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller.

"AFPI is known for its outstanding coalition building— from our Governors Council to Athletes for America— and for bringing stakeholders and citizens together to deliver on America First policies. Our America First Ag Commissioners and Secretaries Council is a welcome addition to our work. These are the officials on the frontlines serving farming and ranching communities across the nation and will be key to delivering on Farmers First policies,” said AFPI Executive Vice President Ashley Hayek.

"It is a privilege and honor to serve as a member of the America First Agriculture Commissioners and Secretaries Council. As a longtime supporter of the America First Agenda, I am looking forward to developing the best policies for implementation as we work to strengthen our country’s agricultural backbone. By eliminating needless bureaucracy and restoring common sense, we can embrace our local food supply, bolster rural America, and in turn, strengthen our national security," said Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson.

"I am incredibly proud to serve as a member of the America First Agriculture Commissioners and Secretaries Council, and I look forward to working with AFPI and my fellow Council members to champion policies that put American and Georgia farmers first. As one of America’s top production ag states, Georgia needs a seat at the table in the national conversation on ag policy, and I’m excited to fill that role and advise on policies that support our state’s #1 industry,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.

“I’m proud to stand with AFPI as a member of their America First Agriculture Commissioners and Secretaries Council. This isn’t just another think tank. It’s a hands-on effort to ensure our farmers, ranchers, agriculture producers, and rural families remain an important part of the America First Agenda. With AFPI’s Farmers First Agenda, we’re working to restore rural America and protect the health and prosperity of this nation. The past four years have hit our rural communities hard, but we’re not backing down. I’m ready to work with AFPI and leaders nationwide to rebuild a stronger future for those who keep America fed and free,” said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

“It’s an honor to serve on the America First Agriculture Commissioners and Secretaries Council, where we’re focused on putting the needs of our farmers, rural communities, and food system at the center of national policy. Kentucky agriculture thrives when we cut red tape, empower local producers, and return decision-making to the states. Together, we’re committed to advancing smart, farmer-first solutions that protect our food supply, support rural economies, and strengthen the future of American agriculture,” said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell.

“Agriculture is the foundation of our national prosperity and critical to our national security. It is an honor to join colleagues from throughout the country who are passionate about ensuring the long-term success and viability of the industry and way of life that we all love and that has been under threat for far too long,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.

The launch of the America First Agriculture Commissioners & Secretaries Council is an important advancement towards the three goals of the America First Policy Institute’s Farmers First Agenda: drive rural prosperity, right-size and reorient government, and generate responsible nutrition policy. This collaborative effort will truly put farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans first.

Please see Commissioner Shell's recent opinion piece about the Council’s future work in Townhall.

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About America First Policy Institute

The America First Policy Institute advances policies that put the American people first. AFPI’s guiding principles are liberty, free enterprise, national greatness, American military superiority, foreign policy in the American interest and the primacy of American workers, families and communities. Several AFPI national leaders have been selected by President Trump to serve in his cabinet or other important roles, including AFPI Chair Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education; AFPI CEO Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture; Pam Bondi, Attorney General; Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the EPA; Lt. General Keith Kellogg (Ret.), Special Envoy to Ukraine and Russia, Kash Patel, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others.