US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced who will lead USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Rural Development offices in South Dakota, North Dakota and around the country.
Beresford area farmer Paul Shubeck has been named South Dakota’s state FSA state director while Portland area farmer Brad Thykeson will lead North Dakota’s FSA office.
Along with being a farmer, Shubeck was instrumental in generating the Wetland CRP Pilot Program in South Dakota. Thykeson has been an owner and operator of a farming operation for 33 years and is the owner of a commercial trucking business.
Julie Gross will serve as the South Dakota Rural Development state director. Clare Carlson will be Gross’ counter-part in North Dakota. Gross is currently the Economic Development Director for the Lake Area Improvement Corporation in Madison. Carlson has served nearly eight years as the State Director of USDA Rural Development and was previously a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives.
FSA state directors help implement USDA policies in planning, organizing, and administering FSA programs in their respective states. They are also responsible for running the day-to-day activities of the state FSA office. Similarly, RD state directors work to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.
All serve as appointees of President Trump.