State Ag. Commissioner Ryan Quarles elected VP of agriculture group

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ryan-quarles-09-14

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles was elected second vice president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Wednesday on the last day of its annual meeting, according to a release.

“I am honored and humbled to be elected to this high office in a national agriculture organization,” Quarles said. “It’s always important for Kentucky to have a seat at the table when national ag policy is being crafted. I will use this office to represent the interests of Kentucky farmers and agribusinesses.”

Quarles is the first Kentucky agriculture commissioner to hold office in NASDA since Billy Ray Smith, who served as president of the national organization in 2001-2002. Commissioner Quarles served as secretary-treasurer in 2017-2018.

Quarles, who at 34 is the youngest statewide elected official in the United States, was elected Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner in 2015. He served as a state representative for six years prior to his election as commissioner.

By Kentucky Today