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NASDA elects Arthur as new president

Oklahoma Ag Secretary Blayne Arthur is the new president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Arthur says agriculture looks different all across the U.S., but NASDA members have the same purpose of representing their farming and ranching communities. “There are states that are livestock-strong states and some that are crop-strong states,” she said. “We want to make sure everyone has a place at the table and a voice so that we can all collectively move forward together.”

She tells Brownfield the association plays a critical role in strengthening the industry. “We want to continue this forward momentum and want to have NASDA be the voice that folks turn to when they have a question about agriculture and all those topics that fall under that umbrella. I think we’re in a really good place but want to continue with that momentum.”

Also elected to NASDA’s Board of Directors are Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward as vice president, Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Amanda Beal as second vice president and Washington State Director of Agriculture Derek Sandison as secretary-treasurer. Wyoming Director of Agriculture Doug Miyamoto will serve as NASDA’s past president and Indiana Director of Agriculture Don Lamb will serve in the at-large position. Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Bryan Hulburt, Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Joe Guthrie, Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn, and Utah Commissioner of Agriculture Craig Buttars will serve as the Northeastern, Southern, Midwestern, and Western representatives respectively.

Arthur will host the 2024 annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana September 22-25.