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

Concord, N.H. - Jan. 14, 2026 - The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the New Hampshire 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 Hampshire are:

Kathleen Marie Sherman, Chair (Center Conway) - Sherman owns and operates a fourth-generation diversified farm that raises beef cattle and produces most of the farm's feed. She also manages 30 acres of vegetables for a farm market and operates a 10-acre fall corn maze. She served on the New Hampshire FSA state committee during the first Trump administration.

Daniel Franklin Hicks III, Member (Londonderry) - Hicks has more than 40 years of leadership in orchard production, diversified farm operations, workforce supervision, and community-focused agricultural outreach. He oversees all crop production, land management, staffing, budgeting, financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and marketing initiatives for the farm. Hicks previously served on his local FSA county committee.

Gary Dwight LeClair, Member (Claremont) - LeClair is a lifelong resident of New Hampshire. He began farming with his family in 1973 and established his own operation in 1978. He started his dairy farm with 50-head and expanded to more than 500-head today.

Diane Lynn Souther, Member (Concord) - Souther co-owns and operates a diversified, seasonal fruit and vegetable operation with a retail farm stand, pick-your-own, commercial jams and jellies, and a farm kitchen bakery. She established the farm with her husband in 1978 after purchasing and developing the land.

Denis Paddleford Ward, Member (Monroe) - Ward managed a farm in North Haverhill for 13 years and operated an award-winning family dairy farm for 30 years before transferring the operation to his daughter and son-in-law. He has been heavily involved in his community and serves as moderator of the town of Monroe and is also involved in the Monroe school district. Ward previously served as the New Hampshire Farm Bureau president.

"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.