Education -- B.S. wildlife management; M.A. business management; USMC Command and Staff College; Defense Language Institute-Arabic; Defense Intelligence College
Occupation -- Commissioner of Agriculture
Personal statement -- The national statistics are released and agriculture is growing in West Virginia.
Livestock numbers of all classes are rising as the nation's numbers decline. Farmers markets have almost tripled. Red meat production is up 51%. Farm sales to retailers up 57%. Grass hay production is rising again. Farm income is up. There are 1,000 more decisions makers on farms. Young farmers are up. There is more!!
My team has a great record to run for re-election upon. We brought the most modern aseptic beverage processing facility to WV creating hundreds of good paying job with very little taxpayer cost. With another term we will build upon the above successes.
We are the only state in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed meeting the 2025 restoration goals. I want to bring those lessons learned to the rest of West Virginia watersheds particularly the Ohio River Basin.
Agri-tourism is also growing. We have helped keep our waters clean and forests healthy. So necessary for our states growing tourism industry and a big responsibility of the Commissioner.
With partners we have improved and will continue improving the programs that feed those in need. We kept our grocery shelves full during the pandemic. We did better than neighboring states.
Experience matters. My peers elected me as a president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (2022). Currently Vice President of Southern US Trade Association and Chair of Rural Development and Financial Security for National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
