NCBA is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca Barnett as director of animal health and food safety policy in its Washington, D.C. office. Barnett will be working on issues such as traceability, Dietary Guidelines, animal welfare and food safety.

Barnett is from a small California ranching community in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She received her bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems from the University of California, Davis. While attending UC Davis, she served on the 2017 California Young Cattlemen’s State Committee and managed the UC Davis Research, Teaching, and Outreach Sheep facility. Rebecca gained experience in policy and animal health through working at the California State Assembly and UC Davis Veterinary Hospital.

In 2020, she graduated from Texas A&M University with a master’s degree in agribusiness. Her most recent experience includes tenure at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) as the associate director of public policy.

NCBA also recently announced Sigrid Johannes has been promoted to director of government affairs and director of the public lands council. Johannes will continue working on our natural resources, endangered species and grazing portfolio. She previously worked for NCBA on the communications team and is a Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Joint Economic Committee alum.

Kelsea Forward has been hired as associate director of government affairs. She comes to NCBA from the American Farm Bureau Federation.