National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) CEO Ted McKinney is traveling to Havana, Cuba this week with a delegation of ag leaders—including Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Don Lamb—to identify and address trade barriers for U.S. ag products.
In addition, the delegation seeks to gain a better understanding of trade rules and regulations, as well as the political and economic environment in order to strengthen the United States’ trade relationship with Cuba.
While in-country, NASDA will meet with government officials, as well as industry and private sector leaders, to learn more about how the U.S. and Cuba can collaborate in the future.
The delegation will consist of 13 people including NASDA members, an industry representative, supporting NASDA staff and Paul Johnson with FocusCuba.
The delegation will be in-country Feb. 18-22.
In addition to McKinney and Lamb, some of the other ag leaders who are part of NASDA’s delegation to Cuba include:
- Amanda Beal, Commissioner, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
- Bryan Hurlburt, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Agriculture
- Christy Clark, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture
- Hugh Weathers, Commissioner, South Carolina Department of Agriculture
- Mike Strain, Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
- Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Ernesto Baron, FTA International, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council Representative (NASDA industry guest)
McKinney is a native of Tipton County, Indiana, and had previously served as ISDA Director from 2014 to 2017. He also served as the USDA’s Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs during the Trump administration.
Lamb, who will soon be celebrating his one-year anniversary as ISDA Director on March 1, is also the co-owner and operator of Lamb Farms and Lamb Farms Agronomy in Boone County, Indiana. Lamb also serves on NASDA’s Board of Directors.
NASDA will provide updates on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn as their delegation discusses and tours Cuban food and agricultural businesses.
