FRANKFORT, KY (December 26, 2007) - Governor Steve Beshear today announced the appointment of Roger Thomas, 57, as Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy.

Most recently, Thomas served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council. He served as a state representative for the 21st district in the Kentucky General Assembly from 1996-2004. During his entire tenure he served on the Agriculture and Small Business Committee, serving as Chairman from 2000-2004.

Thomas also served as co-founder and co-chair of the National Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit from 2002-2004 and remains on the Executive Committee. Furthermore, he chaired the Agriculture and International Trade Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures Agriculture and Rural Development Committee; chaired the Southern States Bio-Based Energy Alliance and the Council on State Government Agriculture and Rural Development Committee; co-chaired the Kentucky Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee; served on the Tobacco Task Force, the Kentucky Aquaculture Task Force and the council of State Government Agriculture Policy Task Force.