The wait is over on who will hold the office of secretary of agriculture, as President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday his nominee is Brooke Rollins. “As our next secretary of agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American farmers, who are truly the backbone of our country,” Trump said in a statement. “Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none.”
Not on any of the shortlists (or long lists) circulated in recent weeks, Rollins founded and now serves as president and CEO of America First Policy Institute offering domestic policy insight to the Trump team. Rollins held the role of director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration.
Josh Gackle, American Soybean Association president and soy farmer from Kulm, North Dakota, said in a statement, “We appreciate that Rollins holds a degree in agriculture development and grew up on a farm and that she will bring that perspective, along with her policy experience from the previous Trump administration to the role. The mission carried out by USDA is vital to the continued success both domestically and abroad for U.S. soybean farmers.”
In an X post, Rollins thanked the influence of the Future Farmers of America and her former ag teacher, Gary Rosenbusch, in receiving this position. Gary is the father of The Fertilizer Institute President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. Rollins added, “I promise to work my hardest to make you proud and to never, not ever, forget where I came from.