Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 3/8/21

The White House on Friday tapped Kelliann Blazek as special assistant to the president for agriculture and rural policy — another sign that rural development issues could gain traction under the Biden administration, Liz reports.

Blazek most recently was director of Wisconsin’s Office of Rural Prosperity. She previously was counsel to Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), taught at George Mason University’s law school and worked at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the White House said.

Her appointment comes after farm-state lawmakers and rural advocates pressed Biden to name a White House rural envoy to focus on health and economic challenges in those communities.