Tom, McKinney on Short List for USDA
Published: Friday, November 15, 2024
As the results of the presidential election sinks in, many are turning their attention to the possibilities for president-elect Donald Trump's top officials, namely the secretary of agriculture.
From Indiana, two top names appear: Leesburg farmer Kip Tom and National Assn. of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney.
Tom has expressed interest in the position, stating, "I would be honored to serve at the pleasure of the president if asked."
He served in the previous Trump administration as the former ambassador to the U.N. Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, and currently serves as co-chair of Farmers and Ranchers for Trump.
Tom is credited with transforming his family's farm into one of the largest farming operations in Indiana, with over 20,000 acres.
In addition to serving as a former ambassador, Tom recently served as an agricultural spokesperson for Trump's presidential campaign.
According to Politico, "McKinney has privately made clear he wants the top USDA job."
McKinney has held several agricultural leadership positions, among which are: U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director, and, as a youth, Indiana State FFA president.
McKinney grew up on a farm in Tipton, Ind. and went on to work for Elanco, Dow AgroSciences before his appointment as ISDA director.
Other agricultural leaders in the running for the top agriculture position include: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duval, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, California's former lt. gov. Abel Maldonado and electoral candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others.
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