Jim Reese
Encyclopedia
Jim Reese is an American farmer, businessman and politician from Oklahoma
. Reese was appointed by Governor
Mary Fallin
as Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture
, and was sworn in January 10, 2011. He will be Fallin's chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry issues. Reese is also serving concurrently as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.
and a bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University. He also attended the United States Department of Agriculture
Supervisory Academy at Texas A&M. Reese was raised on a wheat and dairy farm and has continued his own farming enterprise since 1978. He was elected to Oklahoma House of Representatives
in 1986 as a Republican
where he would serve for 15 years in the House from 1987 to 2001. Reese retired from the state legislature when he was selected to serve as the Oklahoma State Executive Director for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency
under the George W. Bush Administration
. As executive director, Reese delivered federal agriculture programs to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through more than 60 county offices across the state. Reese served in that position for eight years. In 2008, Oklahoma House Speaker
Chris Benge
selected and appointed him as his Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the House. Secretary Reese is a long agricultural and rural advocate and feels that Oklahoma agriculture is a vital part of Oklahoma's economy.
Reese has been married to Margaret Lynn Lobmeyer Reese since 1985 and has four children; Joanna (1986), Drew (1987), Lainey (1989) and Spencer (1992). Reese is an active member of these professional and civic organizations: Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Leadership Oklahoma Class IX/Board Member of Leadership Oklahoma, Board Chairman and member of Nardin First United Methodist Church, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy. His Professional Training consists of USDA Supervisory Training at Texas A & M, Labor Relations for Supervisors and Managers and Incident Command System 100, 200 and 300. Reese has received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award, Oklahoma Farmer's Union Outstanding Service Award, NFIB Small Business Award, George B. Schwabe Award for Outstanding Leadership, Oklahoma School Administrators Dedication Award and the Oklahoma State Troopers Award.
named Reese as her Secretary of Agriculture. Reese was the first Cabinet-level position Governor-elect Fallin has named.
Reese was sworn in as the 4th Secretary of Agriculture on January 10, 2011, following Fallin's inauguration. Fallin also appointed Reese to serve concurrently as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. Reese was appointed by Governor
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
as Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture
Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture
The Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...
, and was sworn in January 10, 2011. He will be Fallin's chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry issues. Reese is also serving concurrently as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.
Biography
Jim Reese graduated with an associate's degree in drafting and design from Northern Oklahoma CollegeNorthern Oklahoma College
Northern Oklahoma College is a community college located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, with additional campuses located in Enid, Oklahoma and Stillwater, Oklahoma. Student enrollment is approximately 2,700.-History:...
and a bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University. He also attended the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
Supervisory Academy at Texas A&M. Reese was raised on a wheat and dairy farm and has continued his own farming enterprise since 1978. He was elected to Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
in 1986 as a Republican
Oklahoma Republican Party
The Oklahoma Republican Party is a political party affiliated with the United States Republican Party . Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.-Voter base:...
where he would serve for 15 years in the House from 1987 to 2001. Reese retired from the state legislature when he was selected to serve as the Oklahoma State Executive Director for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Service Agency
Farm Service Agency
The Farm Service Agency is the USDA agency into which were merged several predecessor agencies, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service . The ASCS was, as the FSA is now, primarily tasked with the implementation of farm conservation and regulation laws around the country...
under the George W. Bush Administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
. As executive director, Reese delivered federal agriculture programs to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through more than 60 county offices across the state. Reese served in that position for eight years. In 2008, Oklahoma House Speaker
Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The Speaker exercises administrative and procedural functions in the House, but most importantly remains a representative of his...
Chris Benge
Chris Benge
Chris Benge is a United States Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Benge served as the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Speaker of the House, a position he took over after Lance Cargill resigned in January 2008.Benge was first elected to the House of Representatives in...
selected and appointed him as his Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the House. Secretary Reese is a long agricultural and rural advocate and feels that Oklahoma agriculture is a vital part of Oklahoma's economy.
Reese has been married to Margaret Lynn Lobmeyer Reese since 1985 and has four children; Joanna (1986), Drew (1987), Lainey (1989) and Spencer (1992). Reese is an active member of these professional and civic organizations: Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Leadership Oklahoma Class IX/Board Member of Leadership Oklahoma, Board Chairman and member of Nardin First United Methodist Church, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy. His Professional Training consists of USDA Supervisory Training at Texas A & M, Labor Relations for Supervisors and Managers and Incident Command System 100, 200 and 300. Reese has received the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award, Oklahoma Farmer's Union Outstanding Service Award, NFIB Small Business Award, George B. Schwabe Award for Outstanding Leadership, Oklahoma School Administrators Dedication Award and the Oklahoma State Troopers Award.
Fallin Administration
On November 15, 2010, Governor of Oklahoma Mary FallinMary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
named Reese as her Secretary of Agriculture. Reese was the first Cabinet-level position Governor-elect Fallin has named.
Reese was sworn in as the 4th Secretary of Agriculture on January 10, 2011, following Fallin's inauguration. Fallin also appointed Reese to serve concurrently as the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.