INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith today announced that Ted McKinney, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), will assume additional responsibilities for agri-business economic development within the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). Although McKinney’s primary role will remain as Director of ISDA, he will also serve as Director of Agri-Business Development for the IEDC.
Lt. Governor Ellspermann noted that the agriculture industry already adds $25 billion to Indiana’s economy and directly employs almost 200,000 Hoosiers. She added, “Over the past two years, we have experienced continued growth across the agriculture industry, including significant expansion in the food processing segment. With programs like AgriNovus Indiana, which is our initiative to support food and agriculture innovation, and our new dairy strategy that focuses on increasing processing capacity, we are fully leveraging Ted’s expertise and stature in the world of agriculture to spearhead our efforts to grow Indiana’s agri-business. Furthermore, we have an outstanding team at ISDA which will maintain the highest levels of service and support to Indiana agriculture under his direction.”
Victor Smith explained that Indiana’s competitive business environment with business-friendly tax and regulatory policies is as important to agri-businesses as to any other industry. “These companies will make multi-million dollar investments in our state, either in expansion of current operations or in new facilities, which will be important to Indiana’s economic strength. Ted’s successful career in the agri-business world makes him an ideal representative for recruiting and expanding the presence of those companies in our state. We want to take full advantage of and even enhance the current relationship between the IEDC and ISDA in these efforts.”
Accepting this added responsibility, Ted McKinney commented, “The agriculture industry has always been a vitally important economic engine for our state but there are even greater opportunities for growth and expansion. Major players in the agriculture industry have already invested in Indiana, and we know that others are looking here. I am looking forward to closing deals and finding new prospects that will invest in Indiana and create jobs for Hoosiers. This is Indiana’s time for agriculture development, and we want to show the world that Indiana is ’a State that Works for Agriculture.”
Ted McKinney was appointed Director of the State Department of Agriculture and a member of Governor Pence’s cabinet in January 2014. He is also on the Executive Committee of AgriNovus Indiana. McKinney grew up on a family farm in Tipton County. After graduating with a degree in Agriculture Economics from Purdue University where he was named Outstanding Male Graduate, he began a successful career with Elanco Products, DowElanco and Dow AgroSciences. Most recently he was Director, Global Corporate Affairs for Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Company.
In addition to his professional career, Ted has held leadership positions in Indiana FFA and National FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America), the Indiana 4-H Foundation and the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Trust Fund. He led the effort to recruit the National FFA Center and national conventions to Indianapolis. He has also served on the State Fair Commission since 2005.
