President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint seven U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including five Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and two Rural Development (RD) State Directors.
“A year into this administration, we continue to build an experienced team in our state offices,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I have full confidence these individuals will work tirelessly to advance USDA’s mission in their local communities.”
FSA State Executive Directors oversee Farm Service Agency operations and agricultural policy implementation in the state. Each State Executive Director works with the State Committee to administer FSA programs and County office operations, develops and maintains stakeholder relationships with customers and other agencies and governments.
RD State Directors serve as the chief executive officer of Rural Development in the states and territories and are tasked with carrying out the mission of Rural Development to the benefit of everyone in rural America. In conjunction with the guidance and support of the National Office, State Directors are responsible for promoting the mission and strategic goals of Rural Development and provide key leadership to develop and support a productive, diverse, and inclusive state workforce.
Farm Service Agency:
John Litz has been appointed FSA State Executive Director for Tennessee
John Litz is a lifetime farmer in Hamblen County, Tennessee. He was born and raised on his family farm in Morristown that he and his wife Kathy now share. Their farming operation includes 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, turf grass, and a vineyard. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Litz was an owner/manager in a 2500+ head feed lot operation in charge of animal health and assisted with row crop management. Additionally, Litz graduated from the University of Kentucky’s 2-year Leadership Program. Litz has received awards for Lancaster Sunbelt Farmer of the Year for the State of Tennessee, Hamblen County Farm Family of the Year, and Hamblen County Agribusiness Person of the Year. He has been involved in organizations such as UT Agriculture Regional Advisory Committee, BPOE (Elks Lodge), Hamblen County Democrat Party, numerous Farm Bureau committees locally and state-wide, and is a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Morristown. He served as Vice-Chair of the State Democrat Party and is a member of the State Democrat Executive Committee. Litz also served four terms in the State House of Representatives for Hamblen County where he sat on the Agriculture Committee, State & Local Government Committee, Election Subcommittee, and was an officer as a freshman on the Calendar and Rules Committee. He was elected as Assistant Democrat Leader while in office. Litz looks forward to serving Tennessee as FSA Executive Director, and he will strive to keep farmers across the state informed about FSA programs.
