Bonnie Johnson
May 19, 2025
Media ArticleKirk Pearson, a former Washington state lawmaker, has been reappointed as the USDA Rural Development State Director for Washington. He officially took the oath of office in Olympia on May 5, 2025, continuing his work to serve rural communities across the state.
Pearson first held the same role during the Trump administration in 2017, after resigning from the Washington State Legislature. He represented the 39th Legislative District, which includes parts of Snohomish, Skagit, and King counties. Pearson spent twelve years in the House of Representatives before serving in the Senate from 2013 to 2017, where he chaired the Natural Resources and Parks Committee and served on the Agriculture, Water, Trade, and Economic Development Committee.
Between his USDA roles, Pearson worked as Vice President of External Affairs for Volunteers of America Western Washington.
In a press release, Pearson shared his commitment to the mission, saying,
“I look forward to working closely with local leaders, Native American Tribes, farmers, small businesses, and families to expand opportunity and deliver the resources they need to thrive. Our mission is clear: to support rural America with solutions that are locally driven and nationally backed.”
Pearson is among several new state rural development directors appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who said,
“When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country.”
In addition, Jon Wyss has been reappointed as Washington State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Wyss was first appointed by President Trump in 2019 and later retained by President Biden in 2022.
Their leadership will help carry forward federal efforts to empower rural communities and improve economic development in Washington state.
Photo by: lynnwoodtimes.com
