The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announced today that Katie Nelson has been selected as Deputy Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.?

As deputy director of the department, Nelson will support the director in achieving ISDA?s mission and strategies. Among many responsibilities, she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the department, represent ISDA at events, engage with producer organizations and identify opportunities to grow the state?s agriculture sector.?

Nelson has served and will continue to serve as a liaison between agricultural businesses, state agencies and local units of government.

During the 94th Indiana FFA State Convention, 24 FFA members from across the state participated in a rigorous interview and selection process.

The following members were selected to serve Indiana FFA and it's 13,000+ members as a 2023-2024 Indiana FFA State Officer:

President ? Kelby Roberts, Rushville FFA Chapter
Secretary ? Madalyn Denton, Blue River Valley FFA Chapter
Northern Region Vice President ? Conner Keeslar, Prairie Heights FFA Chapter
Southern Region Vice President ??Blaine Wagner, North Decatur FFA Chapter
Treasurer ? Caden Sixberry, Southmont FFA Chapter
Reporter ? Carson Rudd, Carroll @ Flora FFA Chapter
Sentinel ? Tanner Weakley, Western Boone FFA Chapter

Local government employees, planning commission members and conservation agencies are encouraged to join Purdue Extension and ISDA for the 2023 Indiana Land Use Summit.

This year?s Indiana Land Use Summit will be held at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds on August 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

Click below to learn more and register.?

Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director, Don Lamb and ISDA International Trade Director, Drew Sherman, participated in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's agribusiness trade mission to Japan earlier this month. The U.S. delegation was led by Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor and included 11 State Departments of Agriculture,? nine cooperators and 29 U.S. companies.

Lamb and Sherman participated in government-to-government meetings with officials in Tokyo, toured food processing facilities and met with local farmers and food and beverage industry experts, while making connections to benefit Indiana agribusinesses back home. Japan is Indiana's third largest market for agricultural exports. Following the trade mission, ISDA continues to leverage connections made on the trip by sharing insights with exporting companies and engaging FAS staff from the Agricultural Trade Offices in Tokyo and Osaka on opportunities for Hoosier exporters.