Jake Li, who has led EPA’s efforts to comply with the Endangered Species Act, is moving to the Fish and Wildlife Service where he will take a lead role on endangered species conservation. Li said in a post on LinkedIn he would start as assistant director for ecological services at FWS Oct 21. Since June 2021, he has been deputy assistant administrator for pesticide programs at EPA. Li has been instrumental in the development of strategies farmers can use to minimize the impacts of herbicides and insecticides on endangered species.
Jake Li speaks at CropLife America and RISE's annual regulatory conference in April 2024. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture elected new leaders at the group’s annual meeting in Indianapolis. Arkansas Department of Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward will serve as NASDA’s 2024-2025 president. “I look forward to continuing collaboration with agriculture leaders from across the 50 states and four U.S. territories to advance agriculture and support farmers and ranchers in producing a safe, affordable and abundant food supply for all,” he said. He succeeds Oklahoma Ag Secretary Blayne Arthur, who becomes past president.
Other officers are Maine Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal, vice president; Washington Agriculture Director Derek Sandison, second vice president; Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, secretary-treasurer; and Oregon Agriculture Director Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, at-large board member.
Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt will represent the Northeastern region; Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charles Hatcher the Southern; North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring the Midwestern, and Montana Agriculture Director Christy Clark the Western.
Ward appointed leaders for NASDA committees.
- Marketing and International Trade: Chair, New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball; vice chair, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam.
- Natural Resources and Environment: Chair, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte; vice chair, Indiana Director of Agriculture Don Lamb.
- Animal: Chair, Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Charlie Hatcher; vice chair, Nebraska Director of Agriculture Sherry Vinton.
- Plant Agriculture and Pesticide Regulation, Chair, Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn; vice chair, Idaho Director of Agriculture Chanel Tewalt.
- Rural Development and Financial Security: Chair, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts; vice chair, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper.
- Food Systems and Nutrition: Chair, California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross; vice chair, Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt.
NCGA President Kenny HartmanIllinois farmer Kenny Hartman assumed the role of National Corn Growers Association president Oct. 1. In interviews, Hartman said he will focus on economic challenges for corn growers, pushing for a robust farm bill, expanding markets and addressing tariffs on ag supplies that are passed on to farmers.
His theme for the year is to “build on our ties with existing allies while cultivating new relationships with other organizations inside and outside agriculture,” Hartman said. “We also need to continue to reach out to policymakers and other leaders who may not represent rural communities but who benefit indirectly from the work of farmers.” Harold Wolle, immediate past president from Minnesota, will chair NCGA's board.
Whit Fosburgh joined the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as chief development officer. He has been president and chief executive officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership for 13 years and chief development officer for Trout Unlimited for 15 years.
The USA Poultry and Egg Export Council promoted Leah Cochran Mulcahy to vice president of global marketing. She has been with the organization for over 12 years in a director role.
Patty Cormier was elected president of the National Association of State Foresters. She is the first Maine state forester to hold the position since Austin Wilkins 59 years ago. Cormier has been state forester since 2019 and has over 20 years of experience as a forester with the Maine Forest Service and landowner assistance forester for Georgia-Pacific Corp.
Patty Cormier, National Association of State Foresters The American Feed Industry Association appointed Meghan Dicks director of membership and engagement. She will focus on enhancing member service and experience to grow and retain AFIA members. Dicks was regulatory and scientific affairs manager at ADM Animal and Pet Nutrition.Amanda Martin was promoted to senior director of external relations at the Farm Foundation. She has been with the organization for nearly two years as manager of annual giving and director of development.
Norfolk Southern named Brian Barr vice president and chief mechanical officer. He was general manager of Great Lakes services and senior vice president of transportation at Union Pacific.
Tom Gannon joined LPL Financial as executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. He will lead the firm’s political action committee and government relations. He has worked for H&R Block, Mastercard and the Credit Union National Association.
Candace Bergesch joined Farm Journal as an intelligence director. She will work in the Influence and Trust in Food areas while developing new strategies. 
Meghan Dicks, AFIA
Owen Caine is now a board member at the League of Minority Voters. He is vice president of government affairs at the Toy Association.
Summit Next Gen acquired a 60-acre sustainable aviation fuel production platform located on the Houston Ship Channel. Robert Halpin, who joined Summit Next Gen in June, will be its chief executive officer. Halpin was an executive at Crestwood Equity Partners for a decade.
Mike Santostefano joined Brilliant Harvest Inc. as vice president of product and business development. He led engineering and agriculture data exchange at TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods.
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