USDA Names Trump Administration Appointees to the Texas Farm Service Agency State Committee

College Station, Texas - April 16, 2026 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Texas USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.

Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration's Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.

Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a designated chairperson. The individuals appointed to serve on this committee for Texas are:

• John Malazzo, Chair (Caldwell) - Malazzo is a farmer and rancher producing cotton, corn, feeder cattle, and replacement heifers. He brings to this appointment decades of leadership experience on agricultural boards and committees, including service with Capital Farm Credit, Producers Cooperative, and Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, along with recognition for conservation and cattle breeding excellence.

• Scott Born, Member (Ferris) - Born is a row crop producer farming wheat, corn, cotton, and sunflowers in Ellis County for more than 30 years. He brings extensive experience in diversified crop production along with leadership as vice chairman of the Texas Wheat Producers Board and representation on national wheat advocacy boards, supported by a strong background in community service.

• Jody Brown, Member (Beeville) - Brown is a partner and co-manager of a family ranching operation where she oversees cow/calf production, herd health, pasture improvement, wildlife management, and equine care. She also manages accounting, budgeting, purchasing, payroll, and cattle-handling activities for a local livestock enterprise and serves as a managing partner for additional farming and ranching operations in West Texas, consulting on corn, cotton, wheat, and hay production. Her background includes more than a decade of leadership in Bee County 4-H and experience negotiating land and lease agreements across multiple counties.

• Kody Carson, Member (Olton) - Carson is a diversified crop and livestock producer with experience managing grain, cotton, silage, and cattle operations. He holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in agricultural economics and agribusiness and has served in numerous agricultural leadership roles, including chairman of the National Grain Sorghum Producers. His background includes involvement in national policy development, testimony before Congress, participation in agricultural leadership programs, and he has earned several industry awards.

• Erick Richards, Member (Stamford) - Richards is a row crop and livestock producer farming dryland cotton, dryland wheat, and sesame annually while managing a cow calf operation. He has more than 30 years of experience in crop and cattle production, equipment management, and leadership on local agricultural boards.

"These individuals, selected by Secretary Rollins in partnership with key stakeholders in each state, are held in high regard in the agriculture industry and are entrusted to ensure FSA programs are delivered in a manner consistent with federal farm policy and in the best interest of all agricultural producers in their state," said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. "Their appointment to the FSA state committee is a testament to their standing in the industry and their dedication to the agriculture industry, rural America and President Trump's America First, Farmers First policies."

FSA helps America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.