Trump appoints state ag, rural development leaders
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The state offices of two federal agencies charged with aiding farmers and rural communities have new leaders following appointments by President Trump.
Steve Howell has been named state director of Indiana Rural Development, and Steve Brown has been named state executive director of the Indiana Farm Service Agency, according to a news release from Senator Jim Banks.
Howell is the senior director of industry affairs for the Indiana Soybean Alliance, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also has served as director of community affairs for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and as deputy district director for former U.S. Rep. Mark Souder.
In his new role, Howell will oversee the state office of Rural Development, which provides grants, loans and resources to communities, businesses and residents in rural areas to support economic development.
Brown served as the Indiana state executive director for the Indiana Farm Service Agency during the first Trump administration. A 2023 inductee into the Carroll County Agricultural Hall of Fame, Brown worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana State Farm Service Agency for more than 30 years.
The Farm Service Agency offers programs and resources to start, expand or maintain farming operations. FSA and Rural Development are agencies of the USDA.
“Steve Howell and Steve Brown will help our farmers get the support they need and ensure Indiana’s agriculture industry remains strong for a long time to come,” Sen. Banks said in the news release.