Bio, via LinkedIn:

Brooke Appleton is currently serving as the chief of staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Prior to joining USDA, Appleton served as the director of public policy and political strategy for the National Corn Growers Association. In this role, she was responsible for designing, implementing and advocating for NCGA policy in the areas of transportation and conservation. Brooke was also in charge of coordinating NCGA’s political action committee events and served as the DC office grassroots representative. Preceding her time at NCGA, Appleton served as the Director of government affairs for risk management at the National Association of Wheat Growers. At NAWG Appleton advocated for NAWG policy in the areas of federal crop insurance and federal farm programs. Before her time at NAWG, Appleton worked as professional staff of the House Small Business Committee under the panel’s chairman, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), focusing on agriculture and environmental issues. She previously worked in Graves’ personal office, including as a legislative assistant handling issues such as immigration, trade and the environment in addition to the Congressman’s assignment to the House Committee on Agriculture. Appleton holds a Bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management with minors in international agriculture and political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was raised on her family’s row crop and cattle farm near Stanberry, in northwest Missouri. Appleton is still heavily involved in the family’s farm and plans to continue the legacy that her great grandfather started.