Practical Farmers of Iowa Statement on PFI Member Appointments to USDA Farm Service Agency’s State Committee
Contact:
Maggie Norton | Farmer Outreach Coordinator | (515) 232-5661 maggie_n@practicalfarmers.org
AMES, Iowa (March 24, 2022) — Practical Farmers of Iowa members Kayla Koether, Seth Watkins, Ryan Marquardt and Wendy Johnson have been appointed by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve on Iowa’s five-member USDA Farm Service Agency state committee.
Practical Farmers of Iowa’s executive director, Sally Worley, released the following statement:
“We are thrilled to see Kayla, Seth, Ryan and Wendy appointed to this committee,” said Worley. “FSA will benefit greatly from their unique perspectives, and I know they will work hard to help all those who farm, or aspire to farm, be successful.”
Kayla Koether grew up on a beef farm and is herself a beginning cattle farmer in Decorah, Iowa. Seth Watkins runs his family’s heritage farm near Clarinda, Iowa where they have a cow-calf enterprise and diversified crop rotation. Ryan Marquardt owns Wild Rose Pastures, where he raises chicken, turkey, beef and eggs, near Van Meter, Iowa. Wendy Johnson is a diversified crop and livestock farmer from Charles City, Iowa and a PFI board member since 2014. She will also serve as the FSA state committee chair.
More information is available in the official announcement, which can be found at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Iowa/news-releases/2022/usda-names-appointees-to-the-iowa-farm-service-agency-state-committee.
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About Practical Farmers:
Practical Farmers of Iowa works to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Our values include: welcoming everyone; farmers leading the exchange of experience and knowledge; curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community; resilient farms now and for future generations; and stewardship of land and resources. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.