Matthew Lohr serves as the 5th Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He was raised on a Century family farm in the Shenandoah Valley and has spent his entire life working for the betterment of agriculture.

Matthew developed his passion for public service while serving as both a state and national FFA officer before graduating from Virginia Tech with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education. He has more than 30 years of experience as a professional leader and communicator. 

Matthew served as Chief of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency with more than 10,000 employees across 3,000 offices. He also previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as Director of the Farm Credit Knowledge Center and as a middle school agriscience teacher. 

In addition to serving as Secretary, Matthew along with his two children own and operate Valley Pike Farm, Inc., his family’s farming operation.

Travis Rickman is an accomplished government affairs professional with extensive experience in policy advocacy, legislative processes, and strategic leadership. Currently serving as the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for Virginia, Travis oversees policy development and regulatory initiatives for the state’s agriculture and forestry sectors, which rank as the first and third largest industries in the Commonwealth. He manages over 900 employees across three state agencies while fostering partnerships with federal entities, local governments, and industry stakeholders to support and drive sustainable economic growth.

From December 2021 to September 2023, Travis served as the Governor’s Legislative Liaison, where he worked directly with the Governor’s Cabinet to shape legislative and budget priorities. He played a key role in organizing rollout events for major policy achievements and effectively communicated the Governor’s agenda to all 140 members of the Virginia General Assembly.

Previously, as the Government Affairs Manager at the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, Travis directed the agency’s policy office, leading the development and advocacy of legislative and budget initiatives. He built strong relationships with stakeholders, prepared high-level analysis and presentations for agency leadership, and conducted research to support localities across Virginia.

Travis began his career as a Virginia Management Fellow, gaining in-depth knowledge of state budgeting, legislative analysis, and strategic planning through assignments at the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget, the Virginia Department of Taxation, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. His early roles included serving as Campaign Manager for Virginia House of Delegates members Speaker Kirk Cox and Riley Ingram, and as a legislative intern in the Virginia General Assembly, where he developed a deep understanding of policymaking and governance.

A graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Communications, Travis also holds a Virginia Public Sector Leader Certificate from Virginia Tech.

Dedicated to public service and strategic advocacy, Travis Rickman is passionate about advancing innovative policy solutions that promote efficiency, foster economic growth, and improve the quality of life for communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Elle Smith is the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry in the Office of the Governor. A native of Wise, Virginia, she brings deep Appalachian roots and a diverse portfolio of federal, state, private, and community experience to her work advancing Virginia’s agricultural and forestry sectors.

In 2020, Elle served as Southwest Virginia Region Quality Control Supervisor at the U.S. Census Bureau, ensuring data integrity and facilitating scholarships and resources for rural communities. From 2020 to 2023, she worked as Marketing Coordinator at TriMech Solutions, gaining private-sector expertise while continuing to support her community through substitute teaching in Montgomery County. She also contributed six months as Program Analyst at the Consortium Housing Asset Management Group (CHAM), a public-private partnership focused on rural housing and community development.

In 2022, Elle expanded her public service as a Governor’s Fellow in the Education Secretariat during the summer and legislative session. She joined the Administration full-time in 2023 as Executive Assistant to both the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, later advancing to Program Manager for the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, coordinating cross-secretariat initiatives, managing agency communications, and leading projects spanning farmers markets, rural development, and international trade missions.

Complementing her professional experience, Elle strengthened her expertise in agriculture as a Gilman Scholar in Switzerland in 2022, where she developed a lasting agricultural after-school program for the local community. She also holds a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Tech, with a focus on agricultural and rural development research, blending policy expertise with applied, hands-on learning.

A lifelong advocate for education and agriculture, Elle’s leadership as State President of Virginia 4-H laid the foundation for her continued work driving innovation, community development, and economic growth in Virginia’s agricultural and forestry sectors.

Josie Rao is a Special Project Coordinator for the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry in the Office of the Governor, where she works on initiatives that bring together government leaders, industry partners, and citizens to advance Virginia’s agricultural priorities. Growing up on her family’s beef cattle farm in Rockingham County, Josie developed a lifelong appreciation for agriculture and natural resource stewardship, which has guided her career path and passion for public service.

She is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where she earned a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Planning with a minor in Environmental Science, graduating cum laude and with an Honors Laureate Diploma. At Virginia Tech, Josie completed an international research project in Switzerland on environmental issues, contributed to the university’s Environmental Problem-Solving Studio, and served as a peer mentor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her professional experience includes serving as a Governor’s Fellow, interning with the NRCS, and leading local conservation projects in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Josie brings both practical agricultural experience and policy expertise to her work in advancing sustainable agriculture solutions.