Biden Administration Appoints Arnoldo Hernandez to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Idaho

WASHINGTON, March. 12, 2024— The Biden Administration recently appointed Arnoldo Hernandez as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Idaho Farm Service Agency (FSA).

“Individuals selected to serve as FSA State Executive Directors are incredible public servants who have a proven track record when it comes to their commitment to advance their states and communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Each will serve on the frontlines, carrying out USDA’s mission at the state level and ensuring the voice of each and every USDA customer is heard. We are fortunate to have these talented individuals at this critical time for farmers and producers and rural communities across America.”

A graduate of Boise State University, Hernandez previously served as the Assistant Dean of Students and Founder/Director of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Department at the College of Idaho for 27 years. He served as a curricular and co-curricular resource for college students, faculty and staff on best practices, national trends, and campus community needs related to access and inclusion, intercultural issues, diversity, and social justice.

Earlier in his career, Hernandez was an Employment and Training Manager at the Idaho Migrant Council. He has also held roles at Boise State University and the Private Industry Council and started his career in the Wilder School District in Idaho as a Home and School Coordinator with the Migrant Program.

Hernandez has served as Board Chair of the Caldwell Housing Authority since 2015 and is the founder of the Association of Latino Americano Students, which celebrates the rich diversity of Latin America through an inclusive and enriching college community.

Hernandez was born in Mexico and moved to south Texas when he was two. His family later moved to Idaho where he was raised on a farm and worked for several local small farming operations in the Canyon County, Idaho, area for nine years.

As SED, Hernandez is responsible for overseeing the delivery of FSA programs to agricultural producers in Idaho.  These commodity, conservation, credit, and disaster assistance programs ensure a safe, affordable, abundant, and nutritious food, fiber, and fuel supply for consumers.

“The State Executive Director is a pivotal leadership position for the agency and for the agricultural producers we serve,” said Marcus Graham, FSA Deputy Administrator for Field Operations.  “These leaders, appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration, bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their respective states. We are happy to have Arnoldo Hernandez on board in Idaho and wish him much success.”

Farm Service Agency serves farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural partners through the effective, efficient, and equitable delivery of federal agricultural programs. The Agency offers producers a strong safety net through the administration of farm commodity and disaster programs. Additionally, through conservation programs, FSA continues to preserve and protect natural resources and provides credit to agricultural producers who are unable to receive private, commercial credit, including targeted loan funds for beginning, underserved, women and military veterans involved in production agriculture.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.