White House Selects Jasper Schneider as North Dakota Director of USDA Rural Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that the White House has chosen Jasper Schneider as the new State Director of USDA Rural Development in North Dakota.

Schneider currently serves in the North Dakota House of Representatives and represents District 21. In addition, he is a member of Senator Conrad's Fargo staff where he serves as legislative counsel, responsible for legal research and analysis on health care reform, the flooding response, and other issues.

“Jasper Schneider is an excellent choice to lead North Dakota Rural Development,” said Senator Dorgan. “As a state legislator, he has worked tirelessly to create new jobs and new economic opportunities, and he has shown a commitment to improving the quality of life for all North Dakotans. I look forward to working with him in this position on initiatives that will have a positive impact on the state’s future.”

“Jasper is a tremendous talent. His commitment to public service and vast knowledge of legislative issues -- as well as his strong ties to the community -- will prove to be of great value at Rural Development,” Senator Conrad said. “The people of North Dakota are fortunate to have someone of Jasper’s caliber working on their behalf.”

“Rural Development works to improve the quality of life in rural areas, and I believe Jasper Schneider is the perfect fit to carry out this mission in North Dakota,” Congressman Pomeroy said. “Jasper has spent his career in both the Legislature and private law practice advancing the needs of underserved people across our state. I’m pleased he will continue this work as the new State Director of USDA Rural Development in North Dakota.”

A Fargo native, Schneider graduated from Fargo South High School, Jamestown College and Hamline University School of Law. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and has been in the state legislature since 2007. He and his wife Kimberlee have two children.

Rural Development administers and manages over 40 housing, business, and community infrastructure and facility programs as laid out by Congress through a network of 6,100 employees located in 500 national, state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture and natural resources and touches the life of every American, including working to enhance availability of broadband, promote the development of renewable energy, to conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment, and promote a sustainable, safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply.

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