Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur was recently elected president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. The election was held at NASDA’s annual meeting in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
NASDA is made up of secretaries, directors, and commissioners of agriculture from across the United States. Arthur, the first female Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture is in her second term under Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
“The opportunity to serve NASDA as president is incredibly humbling and certainly an honor, and I appreciate the support of my fellow ag commissioners in this new role,” Arthur said. “Agriculture looks different all across the United States, but I look forward to working together to cultivate common ground as we help producers feed, fuel, and clothe the world. NASDA members will remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthen and promote agriculture in this country, and I am excited to continue this work with my colleagues.”
Arthur’s term as NASDA president will last one year and will conclude with the 2024 NASDA Annual Meeting Sept. 22 to 25, 2024, which will be held in Oklahoma. Apart from Arthur’s election, several other members were voted into positions for the next term. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward was elected vice president, Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Amanda Beal was selected as second-vice president and Washington State Director of Agriculture Derek Sandison was elected 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.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
