News

Pelanda named Ohio’s new director of agriculture

Dorothy Pelanda, who is no stranger to agriculture, was sworn in as the 39^th Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture this week.

She tells Brownfield she is looking forward to working with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to grow the state’s agriculture industry.  

“I look at my role as director as working in consort with our governor to accomplish these far-reaching goals through the important work that we’re going to do in this department in terms of water quality, ride safety, meat inspection, and all of the different departments that are so important to moving agriculture forward,” she says.

Pelanda, who still lives on the farm where she was raised, says water quality remains a top priority.

“The Lake Erie water quality issues are at the forefront,” she says. “Governor DeWine has referred to Lake Erie as the gem of our state and we have some difficult issues again,” she says.

Overall, she says she pledges to be a good listener and use her skills to bring people together and bring forward real solutions facing the agriculture industry.

Pelanda is the first woman to serve as director in the department’s history.

Her great-great uncle, Gieon Liggett, served eight years on the Ohio Board of Agriculture in the early 1900s.

Her career in public service began in 2011 when she was appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives. In 2015 she served as House Majority Whip and in 2017, she was named House Majority Floor Leader.

Pelanda is married to Sam Gerhardstein and has three adult children.

Food and agriculture is the number one industry in Ohio and adds more than $124 billion to the economy each year.

Audio: Dorothy Pelanda, Ohio Department of Agriculture