Tribal Advisory Committee
Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 requires that the Secretary establish and maintain a Tribal Advisory Committee to provide advice and guidance on tribal and Indian affairs. The role of the Committee is to facilitate and not supplant government-to-government consultation. Only Indian tribes and tribal organizations as defined by 25 U.S.C. 5304 and national or regional organizations with expertise in food and agriculture can submit nominations for candidates to serve on the Committee.
Tribal Advisory Committee Charter (PDF, 228 KB) (filed 07/13/2023)
Tribal Advisory Committee By-Laws
Under the authorizing statute, Tribal Advisory Committee members are appointed by the following officials in their respective roles:
- Chairperson, House Committee on Agriculture (2023)
- Trenton Kissee, Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Muscogee (Creek) Nation (Eastern Oklahoma Region)
- David Pourier, Tribal Council, Oglala Sioux Tribe (Great Plains Region)
- Ranking Member, House Committee on Agriculture (2023)
- Charles “Monty” Roessel, President, Dine College (Navajo Region)
- Kelsey Scott, Chief Operating Officer, Intertribal Agriculture Council (Great Plains Region)
- Chairperson, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (2023)
- Whitney Gravelle, President, Bay Mills Indian Community (Midwest Region)
- Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (2023)
- Whitney Sawney, Director of Communications and Policy, Native American Agriculture Fund (Eastern Region)
- Chairperson, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (2023)
- Glenn Teves, County Extension, University of Hawai’i (Hawai’i Region)
- Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (2023)
- Karen Linnell, Executive Director, Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission (Alaska Region)
- Agriculture Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Meagen Baldy, Food Safety Specialist, Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (Pacific Region)
- William “Billy” Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (Pacific Northwest Region)
- Benjamin “Ben” Jacobs, Co-founder/President, Tocabe Restaurant and Indigenous Foods Marketplace (Southwest Region)
Under the authorizing statute, the Tribal Advisory Committee must submit an annual report to the Secretary and specific committees of Congress:
- Annual Reports
- 2024 USDA Tribal Advisory Committee Report (PDF, 7.4 MB)
Committee Meetings
The Tribal Advisory Committee anticipates meeting on the following dates in calendar year 2025:
- February 18, 2025 (Virtual)
- May 7-8, 2025 (Hybrid/Washington, D.C.)
- September 18, 2025 (Virtual)
- December 2025 (Hybrid)
- May 7-8, 2025 (Hybrid: D.C./Virtual)
USDA Headquarters (Washington, D.C.) and Zoom
May 7, 2025
Committee Meeting: 9:00-5:00pm ET / 3:00-11:00am HT
Public Comment Period: 2:00-3:00pm ET/8:00-9:00pm HTMay 8, 2025
Committee Meeting: 9:00-5:00pm ET / 3:00-6:00am HTRegistration Required:
In-Person (Deadline: 5/2 at 11:59pm ET)*
Zoom- Meeting Announcement: Federal Register Notice
- Agenda (PDF, 175 KB)
*In-person attendees over 18 years of age must bring a valid photo ID. All visitors must pre-register to attend and will be subject to screening at the USDA checkpoint. Please review this list of prohibited items: USDA Prohibited Items Referenced List (PDF, 155 KB)
- February 18, 2025 (Virtual)
Committee Meeting: 12:00-7:00pm ET / 7:00-5:00pm HT
Public Comment Period: 3:00-4:00pm ET / 10:00-11:00am HT
Registration Link- Meeting Announcement: Federal Register Notice
- Agenda (PDF, 134 KB)
- December 10-11, 2024 (Hybrid: Las Vegas, NV/Virtual)
Intertribal Agriculture Council Conference and Zoom
Palms Casino Resort
4321 W. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89103December 10, 2024 (Room: Harper C,D)
Committee Meeting: 1:00-5:00pm PT / 4:00-8:00pm ET
Public Comment Period: 1:15-2:45pm PT/ 4:15-5:45pm ETDecember 11, 2024 (Room: Kaos)
Committee Meeting: 9:00-5:00pm PT / 12:00-8:00pm ETRegistration Required for Virtual Participation: Zoom Webinar Registration
- Meeting Announcement: Federal Register Notice
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes (PDF, 317 KB)
- September 5, 2024 (Virtual)
Committee Meeting: 12:00-7:00pm ET / 7:00-2:00pm HT
Public Comment Period: 6:00-7:00pm ET / 1:00-2:00pm HT
Registration Link- Meeting Announcement: Federal Register Notice
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes (PDF, 337 KB)
- May 29-30, 2024 (Hybrid: D.C./Virtual)
USDA Headquarters (Washington, D.C.) and Zoom
May 29, 2024
Committee Meeting: 9:00-5:00pm ET / 3:00-11:00am HT
Public Comment Period: 3:00-4:00pm ET / 9:00-10:00am HTMay 30, 2024
Committee Meeting: 9:00-12:00pm ET / 3:00-6:00am HTRegistration Required:
In-Person (Deadline: 5/22)
Zoom (Deadline: 5/22)- Meeting Announcement: Federal Register Notice
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes
- February 23, 2024 (Virtual)
Committee Meeting: 12:00-7:00pm ET / 7:00-2:00pm HT
Public Comment Period: 6:00-7:00pm ET / 1:00-2:00pm HT
Registration Link- Meeting Announcement: Federal Register Notice
- Agenda (PDF, 170 KB)
- Meeting Minutes (PDF, 287 KB)
Council for Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR)
The United States Department of Agriculture's Council for Native American Farming and Ranching (CNAFR) was established as part of the Keepseagle settlement and is pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. to advise the Secretary on ways to eliminate barriers to participation for Native American Farmers and Ranchers in USDA programs. The CNAFR term ended with the June 2018 meeting and sunset.
