Press Release  Massachusetts Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle Elected President of Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Boston — During the annual meeting of the Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NEASDA), Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle, was elected as the President of the organization.

NEASDA is a regional association that brings together the Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture from ten states in the Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Under Commissioner Randle’s leadership, NEASDA will continue to shape national agricultural policy, promote interstate collaboration and strengthen partnerships with federal entities and key agricultural stakeholders.

Commissioner Randle’s extensive background in agriculture and her collaborative leadership approach will guide NEASDA as it navigates the evolving agricultural landscape of the regional farming community in the 21^st century. She is also a member of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Board of Directors, further emphasizing her commitment to agricultural advancement at both the regional and national levels.

"I’m deeply honored that I’ve been entrusted to serve as the next President of NEASDA,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “The needs of the Northeast region are as diverse as each of the member states, but my colleagues and I share a common goal of working together with our federal partners to advance our states’ farming economies so that we can all continue to advocate for a robust and resilient agricultural sector in our region.”

“Commissioner Randle’s election as NEASDA President is a well-deserved recognition of her outstanding leadership and deep commitment to agricultural advancement,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “Her extensive experience, strategic policy insight and collaborative leadership style uniquely position her to navigate the region’s pressing challenges and future opportunities. We are excited to see her positive impact on agriculture across the Northeast.”

In addition, Randle was re-elected on Wednesday to serve a second one-year term as Board Secretary/Treasurer of Food Export-Northeast. This nonprofit organization, created in 1973, has worked to assist ten Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies and the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service.

The annual NEASDA Regional Meeting is a cornerstone event that brings together member states and other stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions and collaboration. The conference covers topics including labor, trade, farmland protection, food safety, climate change, and food security. Participants also have the chance to take educational tours of local agricultural businesses, providing a firsthand look at the region's vibrant farming and food production landscape.

Commissioner Randle, serving as President, will lead the next Regional Meeting in Amherst, Massachusetts, scheduled for June 2026. The multi-day event will spotlight and promote Massachusetts agricultural businesses and operations to delegates of the member states.

Commissioner Randle's bio can be found on MDAR’s website.

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