CT Agriculture Commissioner Elected President of National Association

HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky has been elected President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) for 2017-18 – the first time a Connecticut commissioner has held the position in NASDA’s 100-year history.

Reviczky was elected last week at NASDA’s annual meeting in New Orleans, and will host the 2018 NASDA Annual Meeting in Connecticut next September.

“I look forward to continuing to partner with my colleagues from across the country as we amplify NASDA’s unique voice and engage the administration and Congress to advance the interests of agriculture in the states,” Reviczky said. “Over the next year NASDA will continue to advance America’s farmers and ranchers by pressing Congress to enact a forward-looking farm bill, advocating for agriculture’s interests in the international marketplace, and working to successfully implement the Food Safety Modernization Act.”

Governor Dannel P. Malloy said Commissioner Reviczky has been instrumental in carrying out initiatives and implementing policy and programs to promote Connecticut agriculture while protecting public health, food safety and agricultural resources.

“He has earned respect from his colleagues all over the country, so it’s no surprise that they decided to elect him president of this influential agricultural organization,” Governor Malloy said. “He’s been fighting hard to promote Connecticut agriculture, and having him serve in this national role will only help him further these efforts.”

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories.

NASDA grows and enhances agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to achieve sound policy outcomes between state departments of agriculture, the federal government, and stakeholders.

Reviczky said he is especially looking forward to leading the work of the reinvigorated NASDA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 1981.

“We have a new strategic plan guiding our work to 2020, and a new mission to advance agriculture and cultivate other societal benefits by empowering state departments of agriculture,” he said.

Story and photo courtesy of Steve Jensen/CT Dept. of Agriculture