President Donald Trump has appointed former Southern District Public Service Commissioner Dane Maxwell as Mississippi director of rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He also appointed Chris McDonald, currently director of federal and environmental affairs at the Mississippi Department of Agriculture, as director of the USDA’s farm services for the state.

According to the USDA, its missions include providing assistance to America’s farmers, improving the nation’s health, ending hunger, ensuring food safety, providing marketing assistance and conserving and protecting natural resources.

The Farm Service Agency implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster and farm marketing programs through a national network of offices.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced the appointments for state directors under the Trump administration.

“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. 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,” said Secretary Rollins.

Maxwell is former mayor of Pascagoula and former state public service commissioner for the Southern District and served as state director for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.