Washington, D.C. (September 6, 2022)—The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today announced that Zachary Gihorski was joining the organization as director of government affairs and sustainability. In this role, Gihorski will manage a suite of issues including climate, conservation, energy, and biotechnology. In addition, he will lead NCFC’s efforts on sustainability, including leading the organization’s Sustainability Working Group.
Gihorski comes to NCFC from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). As associate director of public policy at NASDA, he served as a policy expert on federal legislation, regulations and policy for the 54 state and territorial secretaries, commissioners and directors of agriculture. Prior to his work there, Gihorski worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where he managed a $4 million agricultural tourism program and spearheaded a statewide brand recognition assessment for the commonwealth’s program to promote Pennsylvania-grown products.
“Zach is a fantastic addition to our team and I would like to welcome him to NCFC,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “His background and unique perspective makes him a perfect fit for the organization, strengthening our staff in important areas. I believe that NCFC members will quickly come to value Zach’s expertise across a range of important public policy areas, especially as the agriculture committees begin to write the 2023 farm bill next year.”
Gihorski holds a B.S. in Agriculture Education from Delaware Valley University and a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law. He is a native of Port Norris, New Jersey, where he grew up on his family’s livestock farm. He regularly volunteers to work with 4-H and FFA youth development programs.
About NCFC
Since 1929, NCFC has been the voice of America’s farmer cooperatives. Our members are regional and national farmer cooperatives, which are in turn composed of nearly 2,000 local farmer cooperatives across the country. NCFC members also include 26 state and regional councils of cooperatives. Farmer cooperatives allow individual farmers the ability to own and lead organizations that are essential for continued competitiveness in both the domestic and international markets.
America’s farmer-owned cooperatives provide a comprehensive array of services for their members. These diverse organizations handle, process and market virtually every type of agricultural commodity. They also provide farmers with access to infrastructure necessary to manufacture, distribute and sell a variety of farm inputs. Additionally, they provide credit and related financial services, including export financing.
