From Centerville to Capitol Hill,
MR. BARBRE GOES Growing up on his family’s farm in Centerville, Martin Ray Barbre knew he would never leave White County. As a young boy, he knew he would farm just like his father and grandfather before him. What he didn’t know was that one day he would be advocating for all of America’s agriculture producers from an office in Washington, D.C.
local
On April 30, 2018, Barbre received
USDA’s Illinois Farm Service Agency
a presidential appointment to ser ve
State Committee, “the vetting process
as Administrator of the USDA’s Risk
for the appointment was intense,” said
Management Agency (RMA). Since
Barbre. Officials came to White Coun-
then, his life has been a whirlwind
ty to talk with Barbre’s friends and
of travel, meetings, and splitting
acquaintances.
time between White County and the
In his role as administrator, Barbre
nation’s capital. “Agriculture is my
oversees 350 people, 40 of those are
life, and, I’ve always liked being in
based in Washington, D.C.“ The RMA
leadership positions,” said Barbre.
consists of three divisions, including
This position is the perfect fit for Bar-
compliance, insurance ser vices, and
bre.
the big team, based in Kansas City,
Despite the fact that Barbre was already known in Washington, as
which oversees program management,” said Barbre.
USDA Secretar y Sonny Perdue had
The RMA was created in 1996
previously appointed him to the
by the United States Depar tment of
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