Northwest FSA, RD Positions Filled

On Friday, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced several presidential appointments, including Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Director roles.

In Oregon, Jim Carmack was appointed Rural Development state director.  Rollins noted that Carmack “brings a wealth of financial expertise with a 30+ year career on Wall Street in capital markets and sales supervision with a strength in strategic planning”.  Carmack also  served in senior positions at investments banks, including Jefferies & Co. and Imperial Capital.

In Washington, Kirk Pearson was appointed as State Director of Rural Development.  Pearson held this same position during the first Trump Administration.  Pearson was most recently an executive for a non-profit organization and served in the Washington State Legislature for 17 years, where he was the Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee.

In addition, Jon Wyss was re-appointed as State Executive Director of Washington Farm Service Agency.  Wyss was first appointed to serve as the State Executive Director of the FSA in Washington State in 2019 during the first Trump administration, and was re-appointed in 2022 during the Biden administration.

Prior to this appointment to the Farm Service Agency, Wyss worked for his wife Melanie’s family company, Gebbers Farms, as an analyst and government affairs director. 

"Congratulations to my good friend Jon Wyss on his appointment as State Director of the Farm Service Agency in Washington!," said central Washington Representative Dan Newhouse.  "Jon has a strong history as a leader in the agriculture industry. Washington farmers are lucky to have him charting the course at FSA." 

“When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives," Secretary Rollins said.  "This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again."

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