Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint nine U.S. Department of Agriculture regional positions, including three Farm Service Agency State Executive Directors and six Rural Development State Directors.
Steve Dick was appointed FSA State Executive Director for South Dakota
A native of southeastern South Dakota, Steve Dick operates a family farm in McCook County, where he feeds cattle and grows corn and soybeans. He has served as the Executive Director of Ag United for South Dakota since January 2005. Before joining Ag United, Dick served on Senator Tom Daschle’s staff for ten years in several positions, one of which was Agriculture Outreach Coordinator. He has served on the boards for East Dakota Water Development District, South Dakota Ag Foundation, East Dakota Education Foundation, Sioux Valley Energy Operation Round-Up, and the West Central School District. Dick is a graduate of the University of South Dakota.
Erin Oban has been appointed Rural Development State Director for North Dakota
A lifelong North Dakotan, Erin Oban was raised on a farm family in Ray before attending the University of Mary in Bismarck, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education. Oban’s professional career began as a middle school math and technology teacher. In 2014, she was elected to the North Dakota State Senate and served as Assistant Senate Minority Leader after her reelection in 2018. Throughout Oban’s two terms in the legislature, she served on the Senate Education, Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Government and Veterans Affairs, and Political Subdivisions committees. Oban also served on the Legislative Management Committee and as chairwoman of the Interim Education Policy Committees. She most recently worked as the Director of Community Engagement with the Central Regional Education Association.
Nikki Gronli has been appointed Rural Development State Director for South Dakota
Nikki Gronli most recently worked as a Marketing Specialist at SDN Communications where she oversaw the brand, traditional marketing, and educational events and advocated for broadband expansion in rural South Dakota. Gronli currently holds several board and committee positions, including with the Minnehaha County Housing Redevelopment Committee, Siouxland Heritage Museum Board, and LEAD South Dakota. She served on Dakota State University’s Cybersecurity Industry Advisory Board and as president of the Department of Defense STARBASE program. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and began her career in advertising and marketing in Minneapolis before returning to South Dakota in 2001.
USDA News Release
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