Opinion: Brooke Rollins: Texas' next world changer

The great state of Texas has a special way of breeding world-changers, from Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, to five-star general of the Army and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born in Denison, Texas, to Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States, who was born in El Paso. And now, another world-changer rises out of the Lone Star State, Brooke Rollins, our future secretary of agriculture. 

While some are just hearing about Brooke for the first time, I have had the privilege of knowing Brooke for over three decades. We first met when I was Texas agriculture commissioner, where Brooke, then just 17 years old, was introduced to me through the Future Farmers of America. I will never forget that first meeting her blue and gold jacket, her small-town southern accent, her very big hair, and her clear passion to make a difference. Right then, a lifelong friendship and partnership was born.

Brooke grew up in the small agricultural community of Glen Rose, Texas, and is the product of several generations of American farmers. At an early age, she fell in love with her rural heritage, as so many of us Texans do, through raising livestock, competing in ag competitions (don’t get her started on her state championship run in dairy products tasting in 1989), and taking advantage of every leadership opportunity with the FFA and 4H programs. She earned her bachelor of science degree in agriculture development at Texas A&M University, where she also kicked off her lifelong passion for service as the first female student body president. As a former Aggie yell leader, we still debate which role is best.

After Brooke earned her juris doctorate with honors from the University of Texas at Austin, I was fortunate enough to convince her to join my staff in the governor’s office as deputy general counsel. I knew that whoever I brought onto my team for this position needed not only to have the policy chops and the political savvy to navigate the Texas government, but they also needed to understand our way of life. Most importantly, this person had to have a heart for our Texas farmers and ranchers so that they could best advocate for that critical community.

I knew immediately that Brooke would be the perfect fit. She went on to serve as my policy director. In this role, at the age of 28, she managed my entire policy portfolio, including my agriculture and natural resources policy agenda. 

After our time working together in the governor’s office, Brooke continued to serve in new ways. From her time building the Texas Public Policy Foundation to serving as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council during President Donald Trump’s first term and then founding and growing the America First Policy Institute, she continues to make Texas proud. Her passion for our country and courage to lead and enact change is magnetic and has brought us together for more than 35 years, joyfully fighting for the people of our great country.

But what is most special about Brooke is that she hasn’t lost her heart. Over the years — from the governor’s office to the West Wing — Brooke Rollins has never changed from that small-town Texas girl who wanted to make life better for the folks back home: the farmers and ranchers of this great Nation. That is why she will make an excellent secretary of agriculture and continue to change the world for the better. I’m proud to support her nomination, and I know that the true beneficiaries of her continued service will be those who built the United States of America — America’s farmers. Go get 'em, Brooke.