New USDA Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations

The new USDA Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations, Ken Barbic, is a man Sonny Purdue says has the credentials to the job, coming from a family farm background.

"Having grown up in our number one agricultural state of California, knowing the challenges that our constituents in the agricultural face on an ongoing basis," Perdue said.

Barbic last served as Senior Director of the Western Growers Association, with earlier positions as the US Trade Representative's Office and the House Ways and Means Committee, Barbic comes into this new job at a critical time, and is ready for the challenges he'll face.

"Obviously we have the farm bill that we're in the middle of right now," Barbic said.  "So I'm looking forward to getting involved in that. We're also looking at a NAFTA renegotiated and potentially brought back to congress."

Barbic said working with lawmakers during an election year also has its intricacies. Barbic says just like farming, you never know what's going to come up.

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