Alumna will guide Virginia’s agriculture and forestry industries

Katie Frazier ’04 has spent more than two decades working in Virginia agriculture, representing producers, supporting rural communities, and advancing agricultural priorities in Richmond and Washington, D.C.

In January, she became Virginia's secretary of agriculture and forestry, guiding policy and economic opportunity for farmers, foresters, agribusinesses, and communities across the state.

Frazier oversees the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Forestry, and the Virginia Racing Commission. Together, those agencies support agriculture — Virginia’s largest private industry — and forestry, sectors that generate more than $105 billion in economic impact and employ nearly 490,000 Virginians.

A Rockingham County native, Frazier traces her passion for agricultural advocacy back to her early years in Virginia 4-H and Virginia FFA, where she learned to channel her love for leadership and public speaking into a topic she cared about.

At Virginia Tech, she earned dual degrees in agricultural and applied economics and political science and participated in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ambassador program, the Ag Econ Club, and Sigma Alpha, a professional agriculture-based sorority.

After graduating in 2004, Frazier joined the Virginia Agribusiness Council, where she spent nearly 14 years representing Virginia's diverse agricultural and forestry interests, serving as its president from 2012-18. In 2018, she moved to Farm Credit of the Virginias, advancing from director of external affairs to chief brand officer and leading marketing, legislative advocacy, and stakeholder relations for farmers and rural communities across Virginia, West Virginia, and western Maryland.

Frazier maintains close ties to Virginia Tech. She has served on the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics’ Advisory Board, the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Dean's Advisory Council, where she was named its first chair emerita in recognition of her longstanding service and dedication.

Frazier discussed her new role, the experiences that prepared her for it, and how her education at Virginia Tech continues to shape her approach to public service.

What does it mean to you to lead Virginia's agriculture and forestry industries right now?

Serving as secretary of agriculture and forestry at this moment is both a tremendous honor and a responsibility I take deeply to heart. It is an opportunity to preserve and strengthen Virginia's top private-sector industries of agriculture and forestry while advancing the economies and communities that depend on them. I am blessed to build on a strong legacy put in place by previous secretaries and agency leaders, and I see this role as a chance to leverage that foundation — to make meaningful progress for farmers, foresters, and agribusinesses across the commonwealth.

What are your top priorities as you get to work?

Gov. (Abigail) Spanberger's administration is focused on affordability, quality education, and pragmatic, unified leadership, and those priorities are central to our work in agriculture and forestry as well. At a time of uncertainty across the farm economy, my focus is on providing steady leadership and practical experience to help our industries grow and adapt. Our team is committed to maintaining and expanding agriculture and forestry as Virginia's top private sector industries by building on our diversity and identifying opportunities for growth across all sectors. As we get to work, we are focused on three key priorities: expanding market access and economic development; sustaining and protecting our working lands; and preparing a strong workforce for the future of agriculture and forestry in the commonwealth.

Was there a moment in your career that pointed you toward this role?

It's hard to point to a single moment that prepared me for this role, because in many ways, my entire career has been building toward it. My time at the Virginia Agribusiness Council and Farm Credit of the Virginias gave me invaluable opportunities to work with farmers, foresters and forest landowners, and agribusiness leaders across every sector. Through farm visits, conversations with owners and operators, and hands-on policy work, I learned how to listen, when to ask questions, and how to advocate effectively. I also learned that it's tough to know everything about everything — so having a network of experts who are literally in the field is important as I work to leverage their knowledge and expertise.

I also had the chance to work with Gov. Spanberger during her time on the House Agriculture Committee while I was advocating for Farm Credit. I came to respect her commitment to bringing farmers and forest landowners directly into policy conversations — listening, learning, and always asking how we could do better. Looking back, a farm tour we took together in central Virginia in 2019 stands out as a pivotal moment that ultimately led me to serve in her administration today.

How did participating in Virginia FFA and 4-H shape your path to agricultural advocacy?

My involvement in FFA and 4-H opened my eyes to the critical role agriculture plays in our daily lives and the importance of having passionate advocates to help tell that story. Through those experiences, I discovered where my interests in policy, advocacy, and leadership could come together to make a difference — first in my local community and eventually across Virginia.

Both organizations continue to shape how I lead today. They give young people opportunities to build confidence, discover their passions, and learn how to serve their communities. Every time I work with with 4-H and FFA students, I leave inspired by their energy and commitment. I still find myself returning to the FFA Creed when I need grounding and perspective, especially the final stanza: "I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life…."

How did your time at Virginia Tech shape your leadership and commitment to service?

Once I discovered my passion for agriculture, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Tech was clearly the right fit. CALS became my home on campus — a place where challenging courses and projects, faculty who pushed and supported me, and leadership opportunities through Ag Econ Club, Sigma Alpha, and the CALS Ambassador program shaped both my confidence and my career. I also found a lifelong network of friends, supporters, and colleagues who continue to be invaluable to me today.

I learned the meaning of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) — that service and leadership go hand in hand — from my very first days at Virginia Tech. What I value most about that philosophy is that it calls Hokies to serve not only in formal leadership roles, but in everyday interactions and everyday opportunities to make an impact. I'm grateful to live out Ut Prosim today through public service, working alongside Gov. Spanberger to serve Virginia's agriculture and forestry communities with passion, intention, and a vision for a great future we are building together.