SALTLAKE CITY – Stan Summers, a former commissioner for Box Elder County, was recently appointed by the President Donald J. Trump Administration to serve as the USDA Rural Development State Director for Utah.
When reached for comment, Summers said he was unable to talk about his appointment at this time and was told all the information he could share was in a press release.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Summers will implement President Trump’s America First agenda at USDA Rural Development, making the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers remain priority number one.
“When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country,” Rollins said. “I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again.”
During his time as a Box Elder County commissioner Summers also served as President of the Utah Association of Counties, Chair of the Utah Association of County Commissioners and Councils, and Chair of Bear River Association of Governments. He also served as a board member for several organizations, including NADO (National Association of Development Organizations), the Utah Constitutional Defense Council, the Intermountain Health Corporate Board, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Utah.
“I’m just a dairy farmer’s son, who’s genuinely proud to serve rural America and represent the needs of the farmers, ranchers, and the friends and neighbors that make rural Utah home,” Summers said in the release. “Under the work and vision provided by President Trump and Secretary Rollins, USDA Rural Development will continue to strive for improvement in the way we meet the needs of our communities. It’s rural cities and towns that drive Utah’s economy, and I’m determined to ensure rural is at the center of all we do moving forward.”
State Directors serve as the Chief Executive Officer of USDA Rural Development in the states and territories and are tasked with leading teams to carry out the mission of Rural Development to the benefit of all rural Americans.
The release stated that Summers will be responsible for advancing the key priorities and initiatives of the Trump Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. State Directors also provide key leadership to foster a mission-driven, accountable, and high-performing workforce focused on operational excellence, public trust, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
While Summers served as a county commissioner he was instrumental in getting a 1.3 million square foot inland port facility in Tremonton. During his time in office the county went from 14 percent unemployment to somewhere around the 2 percent unemployment.
The inland ports were a turning point for Box Elder County and the entire region. It focuses on light industrial, aerospace, composites, food manufacturing, steel-related industries and more.
The inland ports attract high-tech advanced manufacturing jobs and create a thriving economic focal point.
To learn more about USDA Rural Development’s leadership and programs, view www.rd.usda.gov.