Leonard Blackham
Leonard Blackham (b. August 26, 1949 in Mount Pleasant, UT) was the 6th Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food. He was appointed to the position on January 5, 2005 by then-governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R).
Blackham retired in late 2013 and Gov. Gary R. Herbert appointed LuAnn Adams on December 20, 2013 to fill his position.[1]
Biography
Blackham was raised in Moroni, Utah. Coming from a family of farmers and ranchers, he participated in 4-H, FFA, and Boy Scouts as a child, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1970, he took over his family's turkey business which he still manages today. He served 12 years in the Utah State Senate and gave up his seat once he was appointed Commissioner. Prior to his service in the senate, he was elected to a four year term on the Sanpete County Commission and chairman of the Utah Association of County Commissioners.
Blackham continues to be involved in the community. He serves as a scout leader for local troops, national jamborees troops, and leadership training courses. He is active in the Utah Farm Bureau and is a past president of the Utah Young Farmers Association.[2]
Education
- North Sanpete High School
- AA, Snow College
- B.S., Agriculture economics, Utah State University
Political career
Utah Commissioner of Agriculture (2005-2014)
Blackham served as Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food from January 2005 to January 2014. He was the 6th Commissioner since the state adopted a single commissioner structure.[2]
Utah State Senate (1993-2004)
Blackham served in the Utah State Senate from 1993 to 2004. During this time he served as Senate Budget Chairman, Majority Whip and Majority Leader.[2]
Appointments
2005
Blackham was appointed as Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food by then-Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) on January 5, 2005.[2]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Blackham and his wife, Laura, have six children and 11 grandchildren.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Leonard + Blackham + Utah + Agriculture"
See also
External links
- Department website
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food 2005-2014 |
Succeeded by LuAnn Adams |
| ||||||||||||||
