WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced changes and promotions to his Committee staff.
“I am proud to announce new additions and promotions within my Agriculture Committee staff, and I am proud that these individuals come from a variety of agricultural backgrounds and expertise,” said Chairman Roberts. “There are several items on our to-do list for the rest of the year, and we intend to sprint to the finish line.”
Janae Brady, Senior Professional Staff:
Janae Brady’s expanded issue portfolio now includes biotechnology and pesticide issues – in addition to her existing international trade and agricultural research issue portfolio. Janae came to the Committee after working at Gordley Associates where she represented various food and agriculture organizations. Prior to this, she worked as a legislative assistant, then professional staff for Sen. Roberts on the Agriculture Committee, and as a high school teacher. Janae is a fifth generation Kansan, born and raised in Parsons and grew up working on her family’s wheat and sorghum farm in Deerfield. She received her bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and master’s degree at the George Washington University.
Chelsie Keys, Senior Professional Staff:
Chelsie Keys’ expanded issue portfolio now includes conservation, forestry, and public lands issues – in addition to her existing livestock and food safety issue portfolio. Chelsie came to the Committee after spending eight years with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) where she was the director of government relations. Chelsie was raised on a grain and cow-calf farm in southern Minnesota and earned a bachelor’s degree in applied economics from the University of Minnesota.
Matt Erickson, Chief Economist:
Matt Erickson’s expanded issue portfolio now includes commodities, crop insurance, and grain standards – in addition to serving as chief economist. Matt came to the Committee after spending more than four years as an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation. Matt also served in USDA’s Rural Development office during the Bush Administration and worked as a consultant with Elanco Animal Health. Matt was raised on his family’s fifth generation farm in Brookston, Ind. He graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in agricultural economics.
Haley Donahue, Legislative Assistant:
Haley Donahue’s expanded issue portfolio now includes international food aid, in addition to assisting with research, trade, nutrition, hunger, specialty crops, and organics. Haley joined the Committee as a staff assistant/legislative correspondent in 2017. Prior to that, she interned in Sen. Roberts’ personal office. Haley is from Vernon, Conn., and is a graduate of Emory University where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics.
Chance Hunley, Legislative Assistant:
Chance Hunley’s expanded issue portfolio now includes assisting with commodities, crop insurance, grain standards, livestock, and conservation. Chance joined the Committee as a staff assistant/legislative correspondent in 2017. Prior to that, he worked as the events and marketing coordinator for the Kansas FFA Foundation. Chance grew up in Riverton, Kan., and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural communications and journalism from Kansas State University.
Lane Coberly, Legislative Assistant:
Lane Coberly’s expanded issue portfolio now includes assisting with forestry and rural development. Lane most recently worked as the Committee’s staff assistant/legislative correspondent following his graduation from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and global food systems leadership. He interned for Kansas Farm Bureau, as well as the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2018. Lane has experience in leadership education, with the national FFA organization and a philanthropic organization. Lane grew up in Chapman, Kan.
Taylor Wiseman, Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent:
Taylor Wiseman joined the Committee as a staff assistant/legislative correspondent this month. Taylor will graduate in May with her master’s in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas where her research focus was on international rice trade. She grew up in central Arkansas on her family’s small livestock farm where she was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA. During college, she interned with Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., and Arkansas Farm Bureau, and served as the national FFA president.
Josh Millard, Staff Assistant/Legislative Correspondent:
Josh Millard joined the Committee as a staff assistant/legislative correspondent this month. Most recently, Josh served as a Cass County board member and an insurance agent in Illinois. He holds internship experiences with Reps. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., and Mike Bost, R-Ill. Josh also worked as a field inspector and crop scout. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural and consumer economics in 2017.
Senator Roberts is the first member of congress in modern committee history to serve as Chairman of both the House and now the Senate Agriculture Committees. He is serving in his third congress as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
-30-