Commissioner Steve Reviczky Elected President of NASDA
Connecticut’s Agriculture Commissioner will lead the National Associations of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) for 2017 -2018.
One of the ERC member states has a Commissioner leading the prestigious, non-partisan group of Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of Agriculture. The remaining elected officers of NASDA for this term include State Agriculture Departments’ leaders from New Mexico, Michigan and Kentucky, with Mike Strain from Louisiana as the Past President. Some of you will remember Mike Strain from past meetings of State Agriculture and Rural Leaders (SARL). North Dakota fills the At-Large position on the board of officers. New York’s Commissioner Ball continues to lead the Northeast Region as the NEASDA President. Lorraine Merrill, Commissioner of the Department, of Agriculture, Markets and Food for New Hampshire, says of Commissioner Reviczky, “He will, as NASDA President, highlight agriculture in Connecticut, New England and the Northeast as a region during his term as President”.
Commissioner Reviczky has been the Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture since 2011, and has a BA in Public Policy and Government from Eastern Connecticut State University. In 2014 and 2015, Steve was the President of the North East Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Prior to Reviczky being appointed by Governor Malloy as Commissioner, he was the Executive Director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Federation. In that role, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Farm Bureau. Steve, from 1998 until 2006, was with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture as the Property Agent of the Farm Land Preservation Program. Prior to that, he worked for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Steve started his career in public service as a Selectman in his home town of Ashford.
NASDA President Reviczky is looking forward to working with the 50 states and four Territories’ Departments of Agriculture and Congress on formulating a new Farm Bill this year – one that works for our nation’s agriculture industry. NASDA is a non-partisan, non-profit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors. NASDA’s website says the organization “grows and enhances agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to achieve sound policy outcomes between states, federal government and stakeholders”. Following his election, Reviczky appointed the policy committee chairs and vice chairs. Those policy committees are: Marketing and International Trade, Natural Resources and Environment, Animal Agriculture, Rural Development and Financial Security, and Food Regulation, as well as the Communications Working Group.
Commissioner Merrill has noted, “The timing of Steve’s election as President is beneficial, as NASDA is an increasingly influential organization, and Commissioner Reviczky will ensure the northeast perspective is heard on issues such as food safety and other regulations and key farm bill programs like dairy, conservation and farmland preservation, specialty crops, food and agriculture research and more”.
Some of you might remember meeting Steve at the Tuesday morning breakfast meeting at the CSG / ERC annual meeting in Connecticut this summer. Let us congratulate Commissioner Reviczky on his election as President of NASDA.
