USDA Secretary Vilsack Appoints WANDA CEO Tambra Raye Stevenson to NAREEE Advisory Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced recently the three-year term appointment to Tambra Raye Stevenson, founder and CEO of WANDA to the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board via the USDA press release. The Board provides feedback to the Secretary of Agriculture on USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, and to land-grant colleges and universities on food and agricultural research, education, extension, and economic priorities and policies.

“As we continue to build back better a fair, equitable, safe, and secure food and agricultural system, science and research are at the core of data-driven decisions.

The NAREEE board will play a pivotal role in shaping science priorities needed to address tough challenges that our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and consumers face,” states USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"The seeds of agriculture were planted in my roots. I am a fourth-generation Oklahoman with Texas roots. I come from a family of cowboys and ranchers who are still active. As a high school student, I was a proud member of Future Farmers of America studying agriculture at Carl Albert High School. Later at OSU, I got my start working in nutrition research that showed me the value of it," says Stevenson.

The 15-member Board also provides reports and recommendations to the agricultural committees of the U.S. Congress - both House and Senate. The Board is comprised of 3 subcommittees:

- Citrus Disease Subcommittee provides recommendations to USDA on citrus research, extension, and development needs.

- National Genetic Resources Advisory Council makes recommendations to the Secretary and to the Director of the Agriculture Research Service’s (ARS) National Genetic Resources Program.

- Specialty Crop Committee studies the scope and effectiveness of research, extension, and economics programs affecting the specialty crop industry, including the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, a granting program of NIFA.

To learn more about the NAREEE Advisory Board visit: https://nareeeab.ree.usda.gov.