WASHINGTON — On March 17, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint nine U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including three Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and six Rural Development (RD) State Directors.
“Our state offices are on the frontlines of providing critical USDA programs and services,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I am thrilled to welcome these nine talented and dedicated public servants to the team as we continue to build back better for the American people.
FSA State Executive Directors oversee Farm Service Agency operations and agricultural policy implementation in the state. Each State Executive Director works with the State Committee to administer FSA programs and County office operations, develops and maintains stakeholder relationships with customers and other agencies and governments.
Julia Wickard has been appointed FSA State Executive Director for Indiana.
Wickard and her family own and operate Wickard Livestock, a multi-generational livestock and row-crop farm near Greenfield, Ind. She returns to her role as FSA State Executive Director after being appointed by President Obama and serving from 2009 to 2017.
Following her appointment, Wickard served as the Government Affairs Director and Agricultural Liaison at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). She was later appointed Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Program Support at IDEM while also maintaining her Agricultural Liaison role. Wickard has also worked as the Executive Vice President of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, Chief Operating and Marketing Officer and Environmental and Natural Resources Director at the Indiana Farm Bureau, and Environmental and Natural Resources Director in the Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
— USDA Farm Service Agency
