HARTFORD — The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg) is pleased to announce the hiring of Jaime L. Smith as director of the Bureau of Agricultural Development and Resource Conservation (ADaRC), effective June 19, 2020.
“This is an exciting opportunity and a critical time to raise awareness of Connecticut’s farmers and access to local food and farm products,” said Smith. “I’m thankful to be given the opportunity to lead a strong, capable team and expand partnerships to continue providing meaningful programs and services to our agricultural industry.”
Smith will lead the bureau in a full-scale marketing effort for the Connecticut Grown brand starting in 2021. She will continue to direct programs and activities to assist individuals entering, diversifying and expanding their agricultural businesses; compiling statistics regarding all aspects of agriculture in the state; and administering the Farmland Preservation Program and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition program.
“Jaime Smith is a familiar face and name to many in Connecticut’s agricultural industry and rose to the top of an excellent pool of candidates,” Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said. “Her dedication to Connecticut farms, and understanding of their operations, will serve the agency and the industry well. In addition, she will have a key role overseeing our farmland preservation efforts, which ensures a future for farming in our state.”
A graduate of the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources with a degree in Animal Science, Smith worked for Connecticut Farm Bureau Association prior to her hire at DoAg as an Agricultural Marketing and Inspection Representative in 2006. During her 14 years with the agency, she has worked on a variety of programs, including the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council; Farm Transition, Ag Viability and Specialty Crop Block Grant programs; and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition program. Most recently, Smith has been leading the agency’s COVID-19 response effort to address Connecticut’s emergency feeding supports under the direction of Commissioner Hurlburt.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state’s citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state’s economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.
–Connecticut Department of Agriculture
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