Acting Secretary Kansas Department of Agriculture
Josh Svaty was appointed acting secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture by Governor Mark Parkinson in July 2009. Svaty is the fifth generation of his family to farm in Ellsworth County. The Svaty farm is a diversified operation in the heart of the Smoky Hills that includes wheat, milo, soybeans, corn, sunflowers, a cow/calf herd and sheep. Svaty served as the State Representative of the 108th District in Kansas for seven years. He served on the committees for Energy and Utilities; was the ranking member on Agriculture and Natural Resources; and on the joint committee on Energy and Environmental Policy. Svaty also was a governor’s appointee to the Kansas Energy Council, a public/private group of individuals tasked with providing guidance on the state’s energy policy. He has spoken nationally and has testified before the United States Congress on matters of energy, agriculture and water policy. He also serves on the national advisory council for his alma mater, Sterling College. Svaty graduated from Sterling College in 2002 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. As a young farmer, Svaty hopes to bring attention to one of the biggest challenges in agriculture − finding ways for young people to return to the farm and make a living in agriculture. Svaty is married to Kimberly, who owns her own public affairs company. They have a son, Jackson.