CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – With agribusiness a large economic development priority for Albemarle County, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger made her second cabinet selection for when she takes office in January significant for this community with the selection of Shenandoah Valley native Katie K. Frazier as Virginia’s next Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry.

In fact, the Bridgewater native Frazier, when confirmed, will become the second-straight state ag secretary from Rockingham County when she succeeds Matt Lohr.

In fact, Lohr told  On the Farm Radio’s Jeff Ishee he’s known Katie since she was in high school, “She has been a long time advocate for agriculture.”

“I could be more pleased with the selection,” Lohr said.

Her father, Bill Kyger, served on the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors for 36 years.

“Agriculture is the number-one private industry in Virginia. Our Commonwealth deserves dedicated leadership that brings Virginia crop and livestock producers, foresters, business leaders, and community members together to protect and grow this critical sector of our economy,” Governor-elect Spanberger said in the announcement.

“Especially at this moment marked by uncertainty across the farm economy, I know that Katie’s decades of supporting Virginia’s growers and their families will provide the steady experience our agriculture and forestry industries need.”

The Spanberger release noted Frazier has worked tirelessly at both the state and federal levels on a wide range of issues, including soil and water conservation, market and economic development, agricultural research, workforce development, and the preservation of working farms and forests.

The release said since 2018, Frazier has served as the Chief Brand Officer for Farm Credit of the Virginias, in a role where she’s been leading the financial cooperative’s marketing, legislative and advocacy efforts, education, the Farm Credit Knowledge Center, stakeholder and community relations, and charitable contributions programs.

Her previous experience includes serving as the Executive Director of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, a non-profit trade association in Richmond, as well as representation of wineries and grain producers in her advocacy work.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed by Governor-elect Spanberger to serve as the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Frazier said.

“With over twenty years of experience advocating for agriculture, forestry, and our rural communities, I am excited to work alongside the Governor-elect and her team to provide leadership and direction for Virginia’s top industries.”