U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the appointment (July 20, 2026) of 21 new members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the Administrator on crucial en vironmental issues affecting agriculture and rural communities. Mr. William Thomas McDonald, from Five Rivers Cattle Feeding LLC, has been appointed as chair, and Mr. Michael Crowder, from Brushy Creek Farms, will serve as vice-chair, leading the FRRCC’s work. Together, these members bring practical experience and represent a broad range of perspectives from academia, agriculture and allied industries, non-governmental organizations, and state, local and tribal governments. The FRRCC will continue to serve as a productive and valuable resource to the EPA. The committee will focus on several key priorities, including improvements to the technical assistance EPA provides to rural communities, outreach and education on advancing artificial intelligence for precision pesticide application and reduced chemical use in U.S. agriculture, and the critical balance between agricultural conservation, nutrient pollution reduction, and long-term farm viability. The selection process for new members began in December 2025, with EPA issuing a request for nominations that drew more than 90 applicants. The agency selected individuals from a highly qualified pool, ensuring representation across the country. Members were chosen for their expertise in key EPA priority areas, including water quality and regeneative  agricultural practices and represent a variety of agricultural sectors, rural stakeholders and geographies. The members of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee include: Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, Field to Market, Angola, Indiana Chad Franke, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Lander, Wyoming Chris Tanner, Tanner Farms, Norton, Kansas David Graybill, Red Sunset Farm, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania Eric Orem, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Heppner, Oregon James Henderson, Richfield Ranch Ag Ventures Inc., La Jara, Colorado Jason Warren, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma Jeffrey Tiberi, Montana Association of Conservation Districts, Helena, Montana John Klar, MAHA Farmers Hub, Brookfield, Vermont Katherine English, Pavese Law Firm, Fort Myers, Florida Michael Crowder, Brushy Creek Farms, Richland, Washington Nocona Cook, Cook Farms, Cordell, Oklahoma Rick Naerebout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association, Twin Falls, Idaho Dr. Russell Hamlin, Grimmway Farms, Bakersfield, California Ryan Schohr, Schohr Ranch, Chico, California Dr. Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia, Tifton, Georgia Stephen Logan, Logan Farms, Giliam, Louisiana Steve Keen, North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, Goldsboro, North Carolina Stuart Swanson, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Galt, Iowa Dr. Whitney Crow, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi William Thomas (Tom) McDonald, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Dalhart, Texas ...read more read less