Doug McKalip is from a small, rural western Pennsylvania town, and is proud of his rural roots. He's got a lot of ag experience, including work at the USDA, and he served as an intern in the Clinton administration. Since last year, he's served as a senior advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Vilsack says McKalip is highly qualified to serve the roll and has worked on supply chain issues, food security and more in his time as an advisor. Ag organizations have responded enthusiastically.

Max Armstrong's Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Max Armstrong, veteran farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.