Trump Administration Appoints W.R. “Cody” Simpson to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in South Carolina

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2025– The Trump Administration recently appointed W.R. “Cody” Simpson, III as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in South Carolina. Simpson joined the South Carolina FSA team on May 5, 2025.

“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 Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

“FSA State Executive Directors serve in a critical role carrying out USDA’s mission at the state level — ensuring that our focus is on meeting the needs of local agricultural producers by putting farmers and ranchers first,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Rural communities need our support now more than ever. Our newly appointed state leaders bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their position as SED and they will play an integral role in shaping the future of agriculture in their state.”

Simpson, a fifth-generation South Carolina farmer, most recently served as Agriculture Advisor and Chief Executive Assistant to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. Simpson also served as a member of the National Governors Association’s Land Management, Agriculture, Wildlife, and Rural Communities Advisory Network and the S.C. Forest Recovery Task Force. A native of the Home Branch Community in Clarendon County, Simpson is a major in the S.C. State Guard. Simpson earned both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration from Francis Marion University.

As SED, Simpson is responsible for overseeing the delivery of FSA programs to agricultural producers in South Carolina. These commodity, conservation, credit, and disaster assistance programs ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food, fiber, and fuel supply for all Americans. See USDA news release for full list of recent FSA and Rural Development appointees.

FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.