Just days after Joe Kelsay served his last day as director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture it was announced that he would become senior manager of Biotechnology Affairs for Dow AgroSciences. His post is part of the Global Regulatory and Government Affairs Team head by Brad Shurdut. “As a life-long agricultural producer and champion for agriculture, Joe brings great insights, knowledge and experience to this role,” Shurdut says. “As Dow AgroSciences develops and introduces novel technologies necessary to meet the demands of a growing population, Joe will be instrumental in engaging value chain stakeholders and leading advocacy outreach activities that enable the timely introduction of these technologies.”
Despite his nole role Kelsay, still plans to continue his involvement with his family dairy operation. The operation, which includes his father, Merrill, and brother, Russ, milks more than 500 head of Holsteins on the farm, located near Whiteland. The Kelsay farm is also a leader in agritourism and bringing suburban and urban people to the farm to see what modern agriculture is really all about. Kelsay spent more than three years a ISDA director, nominated by then Secretary of Agriculture Becky Skillman. He is also a former Indiana FFA state officer. As ISDA director, he was active in economic development efforts, and went out fo his way to address groups all over the state to help them put a face on agriculture and ISDA.