Brooke Shupe Appleton

Brooke Shupe Appleton serves as the Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the USDA, a position held since February 2025, where leadership encompasses the delivery of farm programs and services to farmers and ranchers. Prior to this role, Appleton was the Vice President of Public Policy at the National Corn Growers Association from February 2019 to February 2025, and served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary at USDA from September 2017 to February 2019. Appleton also held the position of Director of Public Policy and Political Strategy at the National Corn Growers Association from December 2014 to September 2017. Earlier experience includes serving as the Director of Government Affairs for Risk Management at the National Association of Wheat Growers, advocating for federal crop insurance and farm programs, and working as professional staff for the House Small Business Committee and as a legislative assistant for Congressman Sam Graves. Appleton earned a degree in Agribusiness Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006.