Thursday, May 10, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Congratulates Katie Smith on Her Confirmation as Missouri's Director of Agriculture
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt today congratulated Katie Smith who was confirmed by the State Senate this morning as the director at the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
"Katie Smith has a proven record when it comes to agricultural issues, and I am pleased she agreed to serve our state and work to further Missouri agriculture interests and values," Blunt said. "I look forward to working with her to continue the progress we have made for Missouri's farm families. Mrs. Smith will be a great leader and champion for Missouri agriculture."
Mrs. Smith was raised on a family farm in Platte County where she was engaged in the production of corn, soybean, cattle and tobacco. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia were she earned a bachelor's in agriculture journalism.
Mrs. Smith has worked in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Energy and served for federal elected officials in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Most recently she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Energy's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. At USDA, she served as Special Assistant to Agriculture Undersecretary Bill Hawks where she represented the department during the 2002 Farm Bill conference negotiations and served as the agriculture representative for the transition of Agriculture border inspectors to the Department of Homeland Security.
She served for four years as the chief policy advisor on agriculture issues for Senator Jim Talent. She has also worked on agriculture issues for Senator Kit Bond and Congressman Sam Graves.