On May 27, 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced additional state and territorial directors for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD), following an earlier slate announced that month. The announcement named eight FSA state executive directors and nine RD state directors. It records who was appointed then; the available sources do not establish who holds those positions today.
Who USDA announced for FSA
USDA describes FSA state executive directors as helping plan, organize, and administer agency programs through state offices. The May 27 announcement named these additional appointees:
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| State | FSA state executive director announced | Background reported by USDA |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Arthur Keyes | More than two decades in agriculture; directed Alaska’s Division of Agriculture from 2016 to 2019 and founded a farmers market in 2006. |
| Idaho | Kevin Andrus | Former Idaho House member and House Agriculture Committee chair, with agricultural production experience and work as a bank loan officer. |
| Indiana | Steve Brown | Previously served as Indiana FSA state executive director during the first Trump administration; had more than 40 years of involvement in his family farm and 32 years as a USDA employee. |
| Maine | Tommy R. Higgins | Former deputy state director of USDA Rural Development in Maine, with other Rural Development posts and service as an Army lieutenant colonel. |
| Ohio | Donald “Don” Jones | Ohio House member and Agriculture Committee chair who operated a commercial cow-calf business with his wife. |
| Pennsylvania | Richard Ebert | Blairsville farmer; Pennsylvania Farm Bureau president from 2014 to 2022 and American Farm Bureau board member from 2018 to 2022. |
| Rhode Island | Robert Sullivan | Lifelong Rhode Islander, landscape contractor, and Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce board member. |
| South Dakota | Roger Chase | Business and agricultural background; partner in Chase Grain and Cattle; served in the South Dakota House from 2017 to 2024 and chaired its House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. |
Who USDA announced for Rural Development
USDA said RD state directors focus on ways to empower rural America and support economic prosperity. The additional appointments announced were:
| State or territory | RD state director announced | Background reported by USDA |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Twinkle Cavanaugh | Former president of the Alabama Public Service Commission; first elected statewide in 2010. |
| Idaho | Rick Youngblood | Former executive banker and Idaho state representative; retired in 2022 and served as a contract legislative advisor. |
| Indiana | Steve Howell | Former director of Community Affairs at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and deputy district director for Congressman Mark Souder; involved in his family farm. |
| Maine | John Butera | Former commercial loan officer who served as senior economic advisor and labor commissioner to Governor Paul LePage. |
| New York | Richard Mayfield | More than 30 years of federal, state, and local government experience; most recently worked for Dutchess County. |
| Ohio | Charles Tassell | More than 30 years in housing and development policy; most recently COO of the National Real Estate Investors Association. |
| Puerto Rico | Nelson Albino | USDA described him as coming from executive roles in healthcare and as a Civil Air Patrol volunteer. |
| South Dakota | Lorraine Polak | More than 30 years in public service in housing and economic development; most recently a housing policy specialist for Senator Mike Rounds. |
| Wisconsin | Andrew C. Iverson | Most recently executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin; previously held roles with the Republican National Committee and elected officials. |
What the announcement does—and does not—establish
The USDA release and contemporaneous Successful Farming coverage report the appointments as an additional slate following an earlier announcement at the beginning of May 2025. The two agencies have distinct roles: USDA framed FSA directors’ work around administering agency programs through state offices, while it described RD directors’ focus as rural empowerment and economic prosperity.
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These are historical appointment details, not a current roster. The sources do not establish whether any of the named individuals remains in the position as of October 8, 2026, or whether there have been later replacements. Anyone relying on current officeholders should verify the relevant agency’s current roster.
In its May 27, 2025 release, USDA attributed this statement to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins: “President Trump is putting Farmers First, and so is the incredible team we are building at the Department of Agriculture.” This is the administration’s political messaging, not an independent assessment of the appointees.
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Sources: USDA’s May 27, 2025 announcement; Successful Farming coverage published May 30, 2025.
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