One of our most popular PSPA programs every year is “A Conversation with the Secretaries of Agriculture of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Nearly 100 people attended the 90-minute Zoom webinar on December 4, 2025

Using a panel format, the Secretaries profiled agriculture in their state, addressed the common opportunities and challenges across the region, talked about projects of which they are most proud, and shared with us what keeps them up at night.

Common themes included avian influenza, other invasive organisms, keeping up with technology, and workforce shortages across career pathways. All of the panelists spoke to the fact that COVID exposed weakness of all kinds to food supply chains.

Participating…

• Steve Connelly is Deputy Secretary for Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks of Maryland
• Russell C. Redding is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, having been nominated by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and confirmed in May 2015.
• William Donald Clifton was appointed by Governor Matthew Meyer as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture in January 2025.
• Edward D. Wengryn began serving as the New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, following his appointment by the State Board of Agriculture and an announcement by Governor Phil Murphy on March 24, 2024.
• Richard A. Ball was nominated as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on January 9, 2014.