By: Jeff Beach (ND Monitor)
A former Republican state senator in North Dakota has been appointed to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development state director.
Tom Campbell, whose family built the Campbell Farms potato growing enterprise in the Grafton area, also has experience with real estate and banking, a news release from the USDA said.
Campbell served in the North Dakota Senate from 2013 to 2018. He ran for the U.S. House in 2018 and again in 2024 after first announcing a run for governor last year. He suspended his campaign for House in March 2024.
USDA Rural Development is involved in areas such as housing, internet access and supplying water in rural areas.
“The mission of Rural Development is vital to our communities, and I am eager to connect with the leaders and stakeholders throughout our great state,” Campbell said in a news release.
Campbell succeeds Erin Oban, who served as state director under President Joe Biden.
Brad Thykeson, who served as state executive director for the Farm Service Agency in North Dakota during President Donald Trump’s first term, has returned to that position.
FSA administers commodity, credit, disaster assistance and other programs for farmers.
Marcy Svenningsen led the North Dakota FSA office under the Biden administration.
