Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 7/20/17


President Donald Trump intends to nominate Ted McKinney of Indiana to be under secretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, the White House announced Wednesday.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the creation of the new trade post as part of a USDA reorganization in May.
McKinney has served since 2014 as director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. A native of Tipton, Ind., where he grew up on a family grain and livestock farm, McKinney also worked for 19 years with Dow AgroSciences and 14 years with Elanco, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co., where he was director of global corporate affairs.

Among his industry and civic involvements are the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the National FFA Conventions Local Organizing Committee, Indiana State Fair Commission, International Food Information Council (IFIC), International Federation of Animal Health (IFAH), and the Purdue Dean of Agriculture Advisory Committee.

McKinney was a 10-year 4-H member, an Indiana State FFA officer, and a graduate of Purdue University, where he received a B.S. in agricultural economics in 1981. While at Purdue, he received the G.A. Ross Award as the outstanding senior male graduate. In 2002, he was named a Purdue Agriculture Distinguished Alumnus, and in 2004, received an honorary American FFA Degree.

Perdue said Wednesday that Trump chose the right man for the job.

“I have always said that I want someone who wakes up every morning asking how we can sell more American agricultural products in foreign markets. Ted McKinney is that person,” Perdue said in a statement. “His longstanding background in agriculture, economic development, and global issues will make him an unapologetic advocate for U.S. products in the world marketplace.”

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.