USDA official visits Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden visited Indianapolis to meet with leaders across Indiana’s ag and bioscience community.

The visit highlighted Indianapolis’ role as one of USDA’s hub locations and included tours of potential future agency sites, conversations with local leaders and time with USDA team members already based here.

This visit followed USDA’s announcement that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will relocate from Washington to Indianapolis as part of the agency’s reorganization efforts.

“Indiana is built on strong relationships and collaboration, and this move reflects that spirit,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

“Bringing part of the USDA to Indiana strengthens those connections by placing the agency closer to its customers and constituents. It also gives our farmers easier access to the support and expertise they need. It’s a meaningful step in bringing this partnership even closer to home.”

With Indianapolis being named one of five hub locations by USDA in 2025, the trip also focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the city and its surrounding communities.

This includes amenities and support systems for USDA employees and their families as they relocate to the region.

When asked what stands out about Indiana, Vaden said “the amazing diversity of your business.”

“You have a multiplicity of employers that have a minimum of about 2,500 employees,” he said. “It’s a diversified economy, but it’s also focused on ag and biotechnology. In other words, you’re at the cutting edge of technology.

“You’ve got a lot of things dealing with chemistry, and that’s going to fit in well with so much of what USDA does as agriculture is increasingly becoming high tech.”

Bernie Engel, professor at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, said that Indiana’s talent pipeline is promising.

“I also think there’s some huge opportunities for faculty and staff to engage — that may be around research, it may be around Extension, but we’re part of the ecosystem for agriculture here in the state and adding USDA to it will be phenomenal,” he said.