Samantha Beard has been named Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation assistant director for special programs announced jointly by Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Rhedona Rose and incoming Executive Vice President Bryan Wright.
Beard’s role will primarily concentrate on recruitment, leadership development and education. She will focus on TFBF’s Collegiate Farm Bureau efforts and expanding Agriculture in the Classroom connections and resources by increasing awareness and utilization of AITC opportunities, curriculum and programs.
“Our special programs division is critical to our outreach and educational efforts, and we are excited for the division to be back fully staffed by having Samantha join our strong and devoted special programs team,” said Dan Strasser, director of special programs. “She will allow our division to have an added focus to grow Farm Bureau membership among college students, a part of our organization’s strategic plan, and advance AITC by connecting our materials and resources to educators across the state.”
A native of Eagleville, Beard was raised on her family’s beef cattle and custom hay operation. She attended Eagleville High School where she was active in FFA and later served as a Tennessee FFA state officer. Beard graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in agricultural communications in 2017. While at UTM, she interned for Journal Communications, American Farm Bureau and won UTM’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet.
Upon graduation, Beard worked in Washington, D.C. where she held positions in legislative support areas with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Public Lands Council and the North American Meat Institute. Most recently, she worked for Virginia Farm Bureau in the special programs and membership/field services departments serving as the state women’s leadership program coordinator and district eight field services director.
Beard currently resides in Eagleville where she is proud to be back home in the Volunteer state close to family and friends.