National Association of Conservation Districts

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GARY MAST NAMED USDA UNDERSECRETARY

LOS ANGELES—February 5, 2007—The new deputy undersecretary for natural resources and the environment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture is a longtime conservation district leader.

Gary Mast, immediate past president of the National Association of Conservation Districts and an Ohio dairy farmer, was named to that position by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. The announcement of Mast’s appointment was made here today at NACD’s 61 st annual meeting by Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Arlen Lancaster.

“Gary Mast is truly a conservationist, somebody who is well-versed in agriculture and now well-versed in NRCS,” said Lancaster. After serving as NACD president from 2003-04, Mast held positions with NRCS, including senior advisor to the chief and special assistant and chief of staff.

In a news release issued in Washington, D.C., Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns called Mast a “seasoned veteran of agriculture and conservation issues. Gary is well regarded within USDA and by our stakeholders. His background and passion for conservation will be especially valuable as we move forward within the 2007 Farm Bill.”

As deputy undersecretary, Mast will oversee NRCS and work closely with Lancaster and Undersecretary Mark Rey on conservation policy and operations issues.

“My NACD experience and having made my living on a farm for the past 30 years give me the tools to do my best in this new job. It’s a privilege, honor and responsibility to serve,” said Mast.

This is a wonderful happening, not only for Gary, but also our organization and the nation’s conservation districts,” said NACD President Bill Wilson.

Mast was a conservation district official for a quarter-century. He is a sixth generation Ohio family farmer in partnership with his brother, Jon.

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The National Association of Conservation Districts is the non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts and 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. For almost 70 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. NACD’s website is at www.nacdnet.org.