Barbara M. Leach

Barbara M. Leach is the Founder of My Rural America Action Fund, a 501(c)4 specializing in progressive communications and outreach strategies for agricultural producers and residents of small towns across the country. Ms. Leach is an experienced business executive, association manager, and public servant. Her professional experience includes having been appointed to two senior level executive positions in each of two Administrations “by President Clinton at USDOT and USDA and by President Obama at USDA. She has also served as a keynote speaker for international conferences related to agricultural risk management strategies in Eastern and Western Europe, Latin America and South Africa.A native of Atlantic, Iowa, Ms. Leach is a skilled political leader, having won elections to local and statewide leadership in the Iowa Democratic Party for about 20 years. During the 1980’s, she was elected to several terms on the Executive Committees of the Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Chairs. She got her start in politics and agricultural policy as co-owner/manager of a Century Farm in Southwest Iowa. She holds a B.S. in Journalism and Communications from the University of Maryland University College and has completed Further Study at Kennedy School for Government.