On August 16, 2016 the Trump Campaign Announced its national 64-member Agricultural Advisory Committee. The views of New England’s largest agricultural state will be included with the selection of Walt Whitcomb, Maine’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF). A dairy farmer by trade, Commissioner Whitcomb serves in the administration of Governor Paul R. LePage.
Whitcomb’s selection is notable, since the Advisory Committee includes six U.S. Governors and agricultural leaders from several large agricultural states. The inclusion of Maine’s ACF Commissioner ensures that the voice of the small family farmer will also be heard.
“Maine has the largest number of farms in New England and that number has been increasing while the number of farms nationally have been in decline,” said Whitcomb. “I am honored to be able to bring the voice of the small family farmer to the table that can feed America and the world. Americans are hungry for new leadership that will fix a broken system and restore prosperity for everyone. I will gladly help shape agricultural policies that produce results, put people to work and put healthy food on the table.”
Maine Republican Party Chairman Richard Bennett offered his congratulations to Commissioner Whitcomb on his on the selection, “In choosing Mr. Whitcomb to be on his Agricultural Advisory Committee, Mr. Trump is displaying that he understands and values Maine’s rich agricultural history and its importance to our state and national economy. Mr. Whitcomb is an individual who not only possesses a wealth of agricultural knowledge through extensive personal experience, but also vast political experience from his time serving as Assistant Minority Leader and Minority Leader in the Maine House of Representatives. I believe Mr. Whitcomb is an excellent selection for Mr. Trump’s Agricultural Committee, and Maine is fortunate to have his agricultural expertise.”
