Jim Reese

Jim Reese is an American farmer, businessman and politician from Oklahoma. Reese was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin as Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, and was sworn in January 10, 2011. He will be Fallin's chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry issues. Reese is also serving concurrently as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

Biography

Jim Reese graduated with an associate's degree in drafting and design from Northern Oklahoma College and a bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University. He also attended the United States Department of Agriculture Supervisory Academy at Texas A&M. Reese was raised on a wheat and dairy farm and has continued his own farming enterprise since 1978. He was elected to Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1986 as a Republican where he would serve for 15 years in the House from 1987 to 2001. Reese retired from the state legislature when he was selected to serve as the Oklahoma State Executive Director for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency under the George W. Bush Administration. As executive director, Reese delivered federal agriculture programs to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through more than 60 county offices across the state. Reese served in that position for eight years. In 2008, Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge selected and appointed him as his Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the House. Secretary Reese is a long agricultural and rural advocate and feels that Oklahoma agriculture is a vital part of Oklahoma's economy.

Reese has been married to Margaret Lynn Lobmeyer Reese since 1985 and has four children; Joanna (1986), Drew (1987), Lainey (1989) and Spencer (1992). Reese is an active member of these professional and civic organizations: Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Leadership Oklahoma Class IX/Board Member of Leadership Oklahoma, Board Chairman and member of Nardin First United Methodist Church, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy. His Professional Training consists of USDA Supervisory Training at Texas A & M, Labor Relations for Supervisors and Managers and Incident Command System 100, 200 and 300. Reese has received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award, Oklahoma Farmer's Union Outstanding Service Award, NFIB Small Business Award, George B. Schwabe Award for Outstanding Leadership, Oklahoma School Administrators Dedication Award and the Oklahoma State Troopers Award.

Fallin Administration

On November 15, 2010, Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin named Reese as her Secretary of Agriculture. Reese was the first Cabinet-level position Governor-elect Fallin has named.

Reese was sworn in as the 4th Secretary of Agriculture on January 10, 2011, following Fallin's inauguration. Fallin also appointed Reese to serve concurrently as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

References

• Governor-elect Mary Fallin names Jim Reese Secretary of Agriculture, Office of Governor-elect Mary Fallin, 11-15-2010
• Fallin picks Secretary of Agriculture, Tulsa World, by Randy Krehbiel, 11-16-2010