U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the appointment (July 20, 2026) of 21 new members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the Administrator on crucial environmental issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.
Mr. William Thomas McDonald, from Five Rivers Cattle Feeding LLC, has been appointed as chair, and Mr. Michael Crowder, from Brushy Creek Farms, will serve as vice-chair, leading the FRRCC’s work. Together, these members bring practical experience and represent a broad range of perspectives from academia, agriculture and allied industries, non-governmental organizations, and state, local and tribal governments.
The FRRCC will continue to serve as a productive and valuable resource to the EPA. The committee will focus on several key priorities, including improvements to the technical assistance EPA provides to rural communities, outreach and education on advancing artificial intelligence for precision pesticide application and reduced chemical use in U.S. agriculture, and the critical balance between agricultural conservation, nutrient pollution reduction, and long-term farm viability.
The selection process for new members began in December 2025, with EPA issuing a request for nominations that drew more than 90 applicants. The agency selected individuals from a highly qualified pool, ensuring representation across the country. Members were chosen for their expertise in key EPA priority areas, including water quality and regeneative agricultural practices and represent a variety of agricultural sectors, rural stakeholders and geographies.
The members of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee include:
- Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, Field to Market, Angola, Indiana
- Chad Franke, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Lander, Wyoming
- Chris Tanner, Tanner Farms, Norton, Kansas
- David Graybill, Red Sunset Farm, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
- Eric Orem, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Heppner, Oregon
- James Henderson, Richfield Ranch Ag Ventures Inc., La Jara, Colorado
- Jason Warren, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
- Jeffrey Tiberi, Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Helena, Montana
- John Klar, MAHA Farmers Hub, Brookfield, Vermont
- Katherine English, Pavese Law Firm, Fort Myers, Florida
- Michael Crowder, Brushy Creek Farms, Richland, Washington
- Nocona Cook, Cook Farms, Cordell, Oklahoma
- Rick Naerebout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Twin Falls, Idaho
- Dr. Russell Hamlin, Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield, California
- Ryan Schohr, Schohr Ranch, Chico, California
- Dr. Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia
- Stephen Logan, Logan Farms, Giliam, Louisiana
- Steve Keen, North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, Goldsboro, North Carolina
- Stuart Swanson, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Galt, Iowa
- Dr. Whitney Crow, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi
- William Thomas (Tom) McDonald, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Dalhart, Texas
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