Help Wanted: State Seeks New Farm Service Agency Director

U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have essentially posted a job listing in the hopes of finding a new state Farm Service Agency director.

Paul Brule, the current executive director, is stepping down after serving six years at the helm of the agency that administers federal farm programs that help Rhode Island’s farmers.

Though it is up to the President to nominate a candidate, it is customary for state Senators to make recommendations, hence Thursday’s joint announcement by Reed and Whitehouse that there is a job opening.

The FSA is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and, according to a release, “works to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Some of the agency’s efforts include facilitating income support, disaster assistance and conservation programs, providing operating loans for the procurement of farm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as offering ownership loans to help new and veteran producers purchase a farm.”

FSA also works to procure various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs and farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and loan programs.

All interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Senator Reed’s office (1000 Chapel View Boulevard, Suite 290, Cranston, RI 02920) by November 14, 2015.

“The goal is to identify highly-qualified and experienced candidates for this important federal post who will serve the people of Rhode Island with professionalism, integrity, and distinction,” the Senators said in the release.

Brule, along with running the FSA, is a farmer himself and operates a 50-head Herford beef herd, according to his 2010 federal biography.

He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as the state Executive Director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service in 1979 and was reappointed in 1993 by President Bill Clinton.

Over the years, Brule has also worked as a foreman for a heavy equipment company and supervised more than 20 employees. He has served on the Bristol-Warren Regional School Committee, the Rhode Island Country Committee and volunteered with the Warren Volunteer Fire Department Engine 6.

State leaders hope that Brule’s replacement will bring the same depth of experience to the table.

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