USDA Announces New Presidential Appointee to Serve Rural South Dakota
(Huron, S.D., June 5, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Lorraine Polak is appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as the USDA Rural Development State Director for the state of South Dakota. Director Polak will implement President Trump’s America First agenda at USDA Rural Development, ensuring the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers remain a top priority.
“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 Secretary Rollins.
“I am honored to serve as the State Director for USDA Rural Development in South Dakota,” said Director Polak. “I am joining a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to fulfilling USDA’s mission to expand economic opportunities and improve the quality of life in our rural and Tribal communities across our great state.” [Audio: mp3, 16s, 262kb]
Growing up on a dairy farm in Nebraska, Lorraine has worked in public service for more than 30 years in the areas of housing and economic development serving most recently as the Housing Policy Specialist for U.S. Senator Mike Rounds.
State Directors serve as the Chief Executive Officer of USDA Rural Development in the states and territories and are tasked with leading teams to carry out the mission of Rural Development to the benefit of all rural Americans. In conjunction with the guidance and support of the National Office, State Directors are responsible for advancing the key priorities and initiatives of the Presidential Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. State Directors also provide key leadership to foster a mission-driven, accountable, and high-performing workforce focused on operational excellence, public trust, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
To learn more about USDA Rural Development’s leadership and programs, view www.rd.usda.gov.
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