SUNDERLAND — After more than 36 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a Sunderland resident and Montague native has been appointed by the federal government as Massachusetts’ state executive director for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
Dan Smiarowski began his career with the USDA in 1986, having pursued an agricultural economics degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Smiarowski recalled how nervous he was during a job interview with Vermont’s state director when he was fresh out of college and said he never imagined he would reach this point in his career.
“It was the first job off the farm, so it was a little nerve-wracking,” Smiarowski said.
When he first started with the USDA, he said working his way up to the executive director position was a long-term goal of his, but it “wasn’t on my radar at the time.”
The Farm Service Agency serves farmers and other agricultural businesses by offering a wide variety of federal programs such as targeted loans, plus conservation and disaster assistance. Smiarowski’s new role sets him as the chief overseer of these programs in Massachusetts to ensure “a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food, fiber and fuel supply for consumers,” according to the USDA.
A third-generation farmer on his family’s Montague and Sunderland farm, Smiarowski said it’s a privilege to reach this position and to work with farmers across the state.
“I am definitely honored to be in this position,” he said. “I really look forward to working in the Biden-Harris administration and I think there’s going to be some good things done.”
After starting as a student trainee with the USDA in 1986, Smiarowski worked his way up to a farm loan specialist position and spent 15 years in that role until he became a district director. He spent another 10 years as a district director before seizing the opportunity of applying for the executive director position.
Smiarowski said he’s learning his new role quickly through his lifetime of experience with the agency.
“I’ve been fully engulfed in this agency for many years, so I have kind of hit the ground running,” he said. “Basically I am going to be directing and administering all the Farm Service Agency programs in the state, supervising day-to-day operations, staffing and all that. And representing the president, (agriculture) secretary and administration in federal (Farm Service Agency) programs.”
Despite his new responsibilities, Smiarowski said he still raises asparagus, butternut squash and pumpkins on his family’s 99-year-old farm when he has the chance. He said he takes pride in his experience as a farmer and brings that to his job.
“I’m a farmer myself,” he said, “and I take that role to meet with the farmers very seriously.”
Smiarowski said he is ready to help farmers all around the “unique” agriculture system of Massachusetts — noting the huge range of products produced here, like tobacco and hemp, more traditional vegetables and even shellfish.
“We’re just going to continue to provide excellent customer service to the producers in the state and I have a very dedicated staff doing that,” Smiarowski said. “It’s an exciting time.”