OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Governor-elect Mary Fallin today announced that former State Executive Director for the Oklahoma Farm Service Agency Jim Reese will serve as secretary of agriculture in Fallin’s administration and cabinet.
“Jim has spent his life representing Oklahoma’s agriculture interests and its rural communities,” said Fallin. “No one has gathered more expertise or worked harder for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers than he has. I’m proud to have him aboard my team and confident that he will be a strong and effective voice for our agricultural community.”
Reese is an experienced legislator and businessman with extensive professional ties to the agricultural community. He served in the Oklahoma Legislature from 1987 to 2001 before serving as the State Executive Director for the Oklahoma Farm Service Agency. Reese has also served as a policy advisor to House Speaker Chris Benge since 2008. He has owned and operated Jim Reese Farms since May 1978.
Reese graduated from Oklahoma State University before earning an associate degree in drafting and design from Northern Oklahoma College. He also attended the USDA Supervisory Academy at Texas A&M.
For his service to the state of Oklahoma, Reese has received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award, the Oklahoma Farmer’s Union Outstanding Service Award and received recognition or awards from the Oklahoma Institute of Child Advocacy, the National Federation of Independent Business, Kay Electric, the Oklahoma School Administrators and the Oklahoma State Troopers. He is a former board member at Leadership Oklahoma and chairman of the board at Nardin First United Methodist Church.
