Paul E. Brierley, Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, was raised working on his family’s diversified farm. After earning an electrical engineering degree and spending 5 years in telecommunications research, he returned to production agriculture in southeast Arizona.

Paul worked with producers across Arizona as the Farm Bureau’s Director of Organization for 10 years. Then, in 2014, he became the founding Executive Director of the University of Arizona’s Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, which he built into a highly effective agricultural research organization. He is highly respected and represents the best of our agriculture industry in Arizona. 

On June 26, 2023, Paul took over the reins as Director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture under the appointment of Governor Katie Hobbs. He is also the AZ DOA representative on the State Natural Resource Conservation Board.

Paul continues his tradition of partnering with industry to work towards the best possible outcomes in carrying out the agency's mission to protect the health and safety of Arizona consumers, advance and support Arizona agriculture, and safeguard commerce.

Karen Budd-Falen was recently appointed to the Department of the Interior by President Trump.

As a lawyer, Karen mainly represented private property owners, ranching and farming organizations, and local governments. For example, Karen has assisted local governments in asserting their rights of consistency review, cooperation and coordination in federal agency decisions; private property owners in protecting their Constitutionally guaranteed property rights, other multiple users in supporting grazing and multiple use on federal/public lands; and those who are exposing radical environmental groups’ abuse of the legal system through the attorney fee shifting statutes.

Karen served for three years in the Reagan Administration, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., as a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. She later served as a law clerk to the Assistant Solicitor for Water and Power. In 1987, Karen worked for two years as an attorney at Mountain States Legal Foundation, a conservative public interest legal foundation in Denver, Colorado.  Most recently, Karen worked in the Trump Administration as Deputy Solicitor for Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior.  As Deputy Solicitor, Karen was the lead attorney in revising the regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA), appealing wetland maps on National Wildlife Refuge System and was Interior's representative in revising the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

​Some of Karen's publications include The Right to Graze Livestock on the Federal Lands: The Historical Development of Western Grazing Rights, Idaho Law Review, Spring, 1994; Protecting Community Stability and Local Economies: Opportunities for County Government Influence in Federal Decision and Policy Making Processes, Whitman College, 1996; and Counterpoint: Opportunities Lost and Opportunities Gained:  Separating Truth from Myth in the Western Ranching Debate, Karen Budd-Falen editor, Lewis and Clark Law School Environmental Law, 2006.

Clay Crowder is the Assistant Director of the Wildlife Management division at the AZGFD. and sits on the State Natural Resource Conservation Board. The Wildlife Management division has more than 160 employees and programmatic oversight of a $45 million annual budget. Clay has worked for the AZGFD since 2008, starting out as a wildlife technician in Yuma. Clay has served in several capacities within the AZGFD, including native fish biologist, Habitat Partnership Committee coordinator, natural resources planner, and most recently the Habitat, Evaluation and Lands branch chief. He has been Assistant Director since January 2020. Clay received a B.S. in Fisheries Sciences from New Mexico State University. Clay and his son reside in Peoria.

William "Bill" Dunn is a rancher and business owner with his wife Becky in Kearny, AZ. Bill has been a steadfast supporter and promoter of the marriage between agriculture and conservation throughout the state. Bill has been and continues to be an active participant in land management and government-related conservation issues in the state and is an influential voice for ranching and conservation.

As Chair of the Winkelman NRCD Board of Supervisors, Bill has worked with producers and land management agencies (federal and state) to implement many conservation projects in the Winkelman NRCD, including finding funding for invasive species control and organizing the donation of land for conservation purposes.

Tim is a fourth-generation farmer in the Buckeye Valley. He and his son have a small cow-calf operation. For over 40 years, Tim worked as a Soil Conservation Technician at the NRCS. Since retirement in 2018, Tim has served on the Buckeye Valley NRCD Board and is the Vice-Chairman. He is also the AACD President.

Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S., is serving his seventh term in Congress as the Representative from Arizona’s Ninth Congressional District.  First elected in 2010 as a practicing dentist, Paul came to Congress with no prior political experience.  Congressman Gosar believes that the Constitution is the cornerstone of our Republic, and always pursues policies that allow for more individual liberty and less government involvement.

Dr. Gosar is focused on fighting illegal immigration, securing the border, holding Washington bureaucrats accountable, cutting wasteful government spending, fighting woke ideology and the weaponization of the federal government and ensuring that he is representing the interests of his constituents.

Congressman Gosar serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources where he is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and sits on the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.  Congressman Gosar also serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sitting on the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services and the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs.  Previously, Dr. Gosar was elected to serve as Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus for both the 115th and 116th Congresses. 

Dr. Gosar has managed to be extremely effective in a time of gridlock when few other bills were enacted. As a result of his legislative successes, Dr. Gosar has been recognized by GovTrack as one of the most effective members of Congress.  Before being elected to Congress in 2010, Dr. Gosar owned his dental practice and was a small businessman in Flagstaff for 25 years. 

Whether Dr. Gosar is in Washington fighting for his constituents, or back home working to find solutions to the problems facing the people of Arizona’s Ninth Congressional District, he remains committed to ushering in a new era of government that empowers individuals and reforms bureaucratic procedures that are stifling job creation and personal liberties.

State Representative Gail Griffin represents Legislative District 14 in the Arizona House of Representatives. District 14 includes portions of 4 counties; Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Pima.

Gail Griffin is currently serving as a member of the House of Representatives and serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee, Vice Chairman of the Federal Relations Committee, and as a member of the Military and Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and the Governor's Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council committees.

She has also served on the Water Banking Authority, the Water Protection Fund, and many other committees of interest.

Gail Griffin served in the Arizona State Senate and has been involved in issues at the local, state, and federal level for many years. She believes in a smaller, smarter government, less taxes, personal responsibility, protection of property rights, and in the free enterprise system. Representative Griffin will continue to fight to get education dollars into the classroom for students and teachers, for Veteran's issues, for transparency in government, and will continue to challenge federal overreach, and support States Rights and our Constitution.

Gail has received many awards for her service which includes “Senator of the Year” from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), “Legislator of the Year” from Arizona Rural Health Association and from the Arizona Mining Association.

Gail's activities and memberships include: Arizona Farm Bureau, Arizona Cattle Growers Association, Natural Resource Conservation Districts (NRCD), Arizona/New Mexico Coalition of Counties, Realtor's Association (Local, State, and National), Arizona Historical Society, and Sierra Vista Elks Lodge (2065). She has also been volunteering annually for the past 15 years with Girl's State.

Gail is a Real Estate Broker (40 + years) at Sierra Vista Realty and lives in Cochise County.

Claudette is the owner of 7 Spear Ranch in Skull Valley and a second-generation cattle rancher. Her family originally came from Montana, moving to Arizona in 1965 and settling there full-time in 1977. Over the years, her father bought and restored several ranches across Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico, stocking them with quality cattle before selling or trading them for new opportunities.

Although Claudette spent some time away from ranching to pursue other endeavors, she always returned home to help during roundups, feeling a strong sense of responsibility as an only child. Following the passing of her parents, she has taken on the responsibility of carrying on her family’s ranching legacy. Today, she is dedicated to working the land, raising cattle, and managing the ranch full-time—something she deeply loves and values.

Claudette serves as a board supervisor for the Triangle Natural Resource Conservation District and is the Chair of the Western Yavapai Conservation Education Center. She is also a proud member of the Arizona State Natural Resource Conservation Board. In these roles, she looks forward to collaborating with districts, legislators, and partner agencies to support Arizona’s natural resources and agricultural heritage.

Prior to holding her new position of SED for the FSA in Arizona, SED Kerr was an Arizona State Senator, serving in the Arizona State Senate since January of 2018.

SED Kerr, along with her husband, Bill, has owned and operated their four-generation dairy farm in Buckeye since 1980. They have four adult children and eleven grandchildren who keep their lives full and exciting.

Previously, SED Keer served as State Chair of the Arizona Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, Chair of the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Food and Policy Advisory Committee, Maricopa County Department of Air Quality Hearing Board, and a member of the Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Her passion as a small business and dairy farm owner serves her well on the Senate committees in which she serves: Chair of Natural Resources, Energy, and Water; Chair of Senate Ethics; Member of Transportation and Technology; Appropriations; Joint legislative Budget Committee; and Joint Committee on Capitol review.

Frank is a rancher in the Douglas area. His family has been in the business of ranching for over 100 years. He became involved with the Districts in 2010 and is a Board Supervisor for the Whitewater Draw NRCD. He has held the position of AACD President and Past President, and currently holds the 2nd VP position.

Daric is a fourth-generation rancher in Springerville. He and his wife raise Hereford cattle and own a hunting operation. Daric has been involved with the Districts since high school and is currently the Apache NRCD Board Chair. He is the AACD Treasurer.

Sadie is a 7th-generation rancher and raises cattle and sheep. She became a Little Colorado River Soil and Water Conservation District/Navajo Nation member in 2010. Sadie is an elected representative for the Community of Indian Wells. Sadie serves as the Secretary for AACD.

Brent Mackelprang has been a dedicated leader in both the public and private sectors for over four decades. He began his ranching career in 1980 on the Vermillion Cliffs Ranch and went on to serve on the Fredonia Town Council from 1983 to 2005, including 12 years as Mayor. His professional career in the petroleum industry spanned several companies and roles, including Terminal and Marketing Manager positions at Arizona Refining, Sahuaro Petroleum, Paramount Petroleum, Alon USA, and Delek USA. Brent was appointed to the Fredonia Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) Board in 1997, where he continues to serve as Chairman—a role he has held since 2010. Though retired from his professional career since 2020, Brent remains an active and committed advocate for conservation in the Fredonia community.

Ray Martinez is a farmer from Parker Valley where he sits on the Parker Valley NRCD Board as Chairman. He serves as the Tribal Affairs Committee Chair for the AACD.

Amber wears many hats, including her spot on the Board of Directors for the Public Lands Council. Amber is the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Partnership Coordinator and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Willcox–San Simon Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD), where she plays a key leadership role in advancing local conservation priorities. Amber has a strong background in natural resource management, having previously served as the statewide Natural Resources Conservation District Manager for the Arizona State Land Department and as a field staff member for the Arizona Farm Bureau. She holds a Bachelor of Science in American Political Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems Technology. With deep roots in Arizona agriculture and land stewardship, Amber remains a dedicated advocate for collaborative conservation across the state.

Sarah Falen Tate is a 6th generation Wyoming rancher and an attorney for Falen Law Offices and represents farmers and ranchers in various disputes, usually against the federal government. She spends much of her time studying federal laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Sarah also is the founder of Wild West Advocacy LLC, an advocacy firm that uses social media to educate and advocate for agriculture, ranchers, farmers, and rural communities. She has recently become known as "The Constitution Cowgirl" for her patriotic messages. Sarah Focuses on taking complex legal issues and breaking them down for public audiences.

In addition to her private practice, Sarah serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, where she teaches agricultural law and regulatory policy. 

In her free time, she spends time with her husband, Jeremiah and chases her 8 month old son, John. 

Keisha Tatem is the NRCS Arizona state conservationist, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, where she leads a team of technical and administrative professionals to address the natural resource concerns in the state with USDA programs.

Mrs. Tatem began her professional career with NRCS as a soil conservationist student trainee in 1995. She spent over 10 years working directly with farmers and ranchers as a soil conservationist and district conservationist in Virginia and Florida.

Prior to being selected state conservationist, Mrs. Tatem served as assistant state conservationist for field operations in southeastern Pennsylvania, acting state conservationist in South Carolina, and natural resources specialist (policy analyst) with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program team in NRCS’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C. She also worked for two years as a policy analyst with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

During her career, Mrs. Tatem has worked on several national projects to improve agency operations and program delivery. She has assumed many collateral duties serving on the Chief’s Advisory Council, Workforce Planning Advisory Team, Hiring Strategy Task Force, and Chair of the West Technical Center Advisory Committee. 

Mrs. Tatem has served in multiple detail assignments during her tenure as state conservationist. In 2017, she served as the Northeast Region regional conservationist and special assistant to the Chief, assisting with reorganization efforts for the newly formed Farm Production and Conservation mission area. Most recently, she served as the acting director of Policy and Program Analysis Division in the Management and Strategy Deputy Area.

She has earned numerous honors and awards, including the Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40 Leaders of the Valley in 2014 and the Unsung Hero Award for Environmental Sustainability from the Governor’s Commission for African American Affairs in 2015. In 2023, the Arizona Association of Conservation Districts bestowed their coveted Good Hand Award to Mrs. Tatem, which brings her great pride.

Mrs. Tatem holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a concentration in plant and soil science from Virginia State University.

She and her husband Roy make their home in Chandler, Arizona with their nieces, Tamia, Bryanna, and Jordan, and the loving memory of their daughter, Madison.

Tom has worked for the US Forest Service for 33 years in a variety of roles in the Western United States and the previous 10 years in Arizona. Tom studied civil engineering technology at New Mexico State University and graduate-level management at Portland State University. Tom has considerable experience in wildfire management, forest restoration, partnership development, and organizational leadership. He is the AZDFFM representative on the State Natural Resource Conservation Board.

Tom and his wife, Dr. Cynthia Doane, have two sons who are both military veterans.