In a pivotal moment for U.S. agriculture, the Senate confirmed Michael Boren as USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources, overseeing the Forest Service, and Devon Westhill as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman called their appointments essential for "strengthening farm communities and managing our natural resources."

In the Department of Labor, Andrew Rogers, a seasoned labor attorney and former acting general counsel at the EEOC, was confirmed as Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division-a central role for agricultural labor compliance during a time of intense debate over H-2A reform and farm labor protections.

At the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), John Hollay will succeed Michael Marsh as President and CEO. Hollay brings a strong background in government relations, having served with the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Milk Producers Federation, and on Capitol Hill with Rep. Joseph Courtney.

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) appointed Sam Kieffer as its new CEO, effective November 1. A Pennsylvania native and public policy leader with the American Farm Bureau Federation, Kieffer replaces Chandler Goule and is expected to continue NAWG's advocacy on crop insurance, farm bill priorities, and wheat trade policy.

On Capitol Hill, Aleksi Knepp joined the House Agriculture Committee's Democratic staff as a senior policy analyst, after serving as an agriculture adviser to Rep. Nikki Budzinski. She holds degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois.

Private sector shifts include Laura Rich as VP of Regulatory Affairs at the Consumer Brands Association, previously with FDA and Venable LLP. Melissa Duncan, formerly of Syngenta, joins Albaugh as Group Deputy General Counsel, while Amie Thesingh, previously with Wilbur-Ellis and Cargill, becomes CEO of ag-tech firm The Semios Group.

Other notable changes: Cheslie Stehouwer begins a two-year term as President of the American Butter Institute (ABI). Christopher Galen, ABI's longtime Executive Director, will step down at the end of 2025, with David West tapped as his successor. Meanwhile, Constance Cullman, head of the American Feed Industry Association, was elected as the next Chair of the International Feed Industry Federation for the 2026-27 term.

At the World Wildlife Fund, Suzy Friedman was promoted to Senior Director of Great Plains Policy. Ron Clark, a Tulare farmer, will chair the 2026 World Ag Expo, while Sean McMahon steps up as Global Sustainability Lead at Farmers Edge.

New legislative and communications hires span Capitol Hill and industry: Andrew Schinski joins Sen. Tom Cotton, Grace Kim and Paul Iskajyan take roles in GOP House offices, and Katie Kingsley becomes Director of Government Affairs at the National Mining Association.

Across sectors, these leadership changes reflect a recalibration of influence ahead of the 2025 farm bill, with implications for commodity policy, labor regulations, and supply chain strategy.