Terry Peach is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 farmer

Farmer

A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...

 and politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 from Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

. Peach previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

Oklahoma State Cabinet

The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...

 under Governor of Oklahoma

Governor of Oklahoma

The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

 Brad Henry

Brad Henry

Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

 from 2003 to 2011. Peach served concurrently as the Commissioner of Agriculture, having served in that position when he was appointed by Governor Henry in 2003.

Early life and career

Peach has operated a family farm and ranch in Mutual, Oklahoma

Mutual, Oklahoma

Mutual is a town in Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 76 at the 2000 census. Incorporated in 1908, the town suffered under the agricultural depression after World War I and saw only minimal growth during the 1970s and 1980s....

, since 1972. He also owns and operates a farm supply company and an oilfield supply business in Woodward, Oklahoma

Woodward, Oklahoma

Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....

. He earned his bachelor degree in vocational agriculture from Oklahoma State University. Peach served as the Oklahoma executive director of the Farm Service Agency

Farm Service Agency

The Farm Service Agency is the USDA agency into which were merged several predecessor agencies, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service . The ASCS was, as the FSA is now, primarily tasked with the implementation of farm conservation and regulation laws around the country...

, an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture

United States Department of Agriculture

The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...

, for 1993 to 2000. As executive director, Peach delivered federal agriculture programs to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers through more than 60 county offices across the state.

Secretary of Agriculture

Appointed by Governor of Oklahoma

Governor of Oklahoma

The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...

 Brad Henry

Brad Henry

Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...

 in 2003, Peach previously served as the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture

The Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor...

 and Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. As the Secretary, Peach protected and educated consumers about Oklahoma’s agricultural and livestock

Livestock

Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...

 productions. He was succeeded in 2011 by Jim Reese

Jim Reese

Jim Reese is an American farmer, businessman and politician from Oklahoma. Reese was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin as Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, and was sworn in January 10, 2011. He will be Fallin's chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and...

, who was appointed by Republican Governor Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin

Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....

Personal life

Peach is a member of numerous agricultural and civic organizations, including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau

Oklahoma Farm Bureau

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and representing the interests of farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma and is the largest farm organization in the State...

 and the Oklahoma Farmers Union.