Kristen Walker has been tapped as the new associate director of commodity and industry relations for Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation’s Public Policy Division announced TFBF Executive Vice President Rhedona Rose.
As associate director, Walker will focus on commodity issues and industry relations and will work closely with the regional field directors to coordinate activities of the organization’s Commodity Advisory Committees. TFBF has strong working relationships with commodity organizations and other industry partners, and in this new role, Walker will lead the engagement between these partners to accomplish the organization’s policy.
“Kristen is a talented individual with creativity, energy and most importantly character. She is a smart young lady with a strong desire to continue to grow and learn. We are excited to see Kristen join the public policy team,” said Rose.
Walker is not a new face to the TFBF staff. She has been the regional field services director for eleven counties in East Tennessee for the past five years serving as a liaison between the local farmer members and the state organization. She also was a Tennessee Livestock Producers intern in 2015.
“I worked closely with Kristen in her role as field staff and as she has led the activities of her commodity committee,” said TFBF Director of Public Policy Kevin Hensley. “She always brings thoroughness to her work and seeks to understand the complicated issues facing farmers, and I am excited to work with her to build strong relationships with other commodity and industry partners.”
Walker grew up on her family’s cattle farm Maryville and was active in the 4-H sheep and hog programs throughout high school. While in college at the University of Tennessee, she majored in animal industries and minored in food and agricultural business. She was involved in Block and Bridle, Sigma Alpha Professional Women of Agriculture Sorority and was a national finalist in the National Agrimarketing Association Collegiate Competition while on UT’s NAMA team.
Walker graduated in May of 2017 and started her career with Farm Bureau that August. Since she began, she has not only provided leadership to the eleven counties she represented, but also has served as the commodity coordinator for the beef advisory committee and on the advisory council for the University of Tennessee’s Beef and Forage Center.
“The past five years on the field staff team has been a great opportunity,” said Walker. “I’ve learned so much and have gotten to interact with so many wonderful people in the eleven counties I’ve been blessed to work with. I’m eager to take those experiences and use them to help advocate for farmers and the commodities they produce across the entire state.”
Walker will be transitioning from her current role on the field staff team to the public policy division throughout the summer.