Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles was elected as the second vice president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Wednesday on the last day of its annual meeting.
According to a release, Quarles is the first Kentucky agriculture commissioner to hold office in the national organization since Billy Ray Smith served as president in 2001-2001. Quarles served as secretary-treasurer in 2017-2018.
Quarles said in the release he’s humbled and honored to be elected to this high office in a national agriculture organization. He adds it’s always important for Kentucky to have a seat at the table when national ag policy is being crafted, and he will use this office to represent the interests of the state’s farmers and agribusinesses.
Quarles was elected Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner in November 2015. Prior to being elected as Kentucky’s ag commissioner, he served as a state representative for six years.
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories.