Katie Nelson, who has served as Deputy Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) since June 2023, will soon be leaving the agency to accept the position of Executive Director of Public Policy with Indiana Farm Bureau.
Nelson is filling the role that was previously held by Andy Tauer, who left in May to become Vice President of International Market Development for the National Pork Board.
In addition to leading the public policy team, Nelson will be responsible for the overall management of policy for Indiana Farm Bureau at the local, state and national levels.
Nelson tells Hoosier Ag Today that her last day as ISDA’s Deputy Director will be Friday, August 8. Her first day on the job for Indiana Farm Bureau will be Monday, August 11.
Nelson has been with ISDA since 2017. She was previously Director of Legislative Affairs within the department, a role she has held since 2020. Prior to that she was the program manager of policy and regulatory affairs at ISDA.
Nelson graduated in December of 2016 from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 2019, Nelson graduated from the Agribusiness Council of Indiana’s Emerging Professionals Leadership Program. Nelson also is a 2021 graduate of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series. In the summer of 2024, she graduate from AgriInstitute’s Agriculture Leadership Program (ALP) Class 20.
