Blong Xiong, State Executive Director

Blong Xiong was appointed by the Biden Administration to serve as the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in California in January 2022.

Prior to his appointment, Xiong served as the Executive Director for the Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, a nonprofit that provides technical assistance to and advocacy for over 250 small/micro, underserved agricultural producers in the Central Valley and northern California. During the Pandemic, ABIRC collaborated with other agencies to bring equitable services, philanthropic and American Rescue Plan Act funds from local, state, and federal programs, and culturally competent technical assistance to address cultural, language, and technological issues.

Xiong served two terms as a Council Member for the City of Fresno, where he was the first elected Hmong Council Member in the state and the first Asian Council Member in the city of Fresno. Xiong also served as the Deputy Director for The Fresno Center, formerly known as the Fresno Center for New Americans.

He served on several commissions and boards including the Asian Pacific Islander Commission, California Volunteer Commission, Insurance Diversity Board, and the Valley Small Business Development Corp.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Marian College of Fond du Lac and a master’s degree in business administration from National University.

Blong was born in Xieng Khouang, Laos. He came to the United States in 1976 with Hmong Refugees impacted by the Vietnam War (Secret War). He currently lives in Fresno, California, with his wife Maila Yang and their Belgian Shephard Zues