Tootie Smith was appointed by the Trump Administration to serve as the state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Oregon in August 2025.

Prior to her appointment, Smith served a total of 12 years in elective service including in the Oregon House of Representatives and she was elected as chair of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners where she was responsible for managing a staff of 2,400 employees. While serving as county commissioner, homelessness was reduced by 50%, and she supervised the construction of a new $330 million courthouse without raising constituent taxes. She was also responsible for leading her county through three emergency declarations and has a certification with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She is the first and only republican woman elected to both the Oregon Legislature in district 26 and the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.

Earlier in her career, Smith was executive director of the Oregon State Lands Coalition. She is also a published author and was a member of the National Speakers Association where she received numerous first-place awards within her two years as a member of Toastmasters.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management and communication with a minor in journalism from Concordia University, cum laude.

Smith and her husband co-owned several businesses including a logging company, hospitality and event venue, and a hazelnut farm.

Smith is a fourth-generation family farmer raising hazelnuts on the farm where she grew up. Smith is married and has one adult daughter. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors on the farm and traveling.