Rep. Mann Hosts USDA Under Secretary Lindberg in the Big First
MANHATTAN, KS – Today, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) hosted Luke J. Lindberg, USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, in the Big First District of Kansas. During their time in Manhattan, Rep. Mann and Under Secretary Lindberg toured the Kansas State Milling Science facilities and International Grains Program, visited the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, and participated in a global food security lunch with Kansas agricultural leaders, commodity groups, and industry stakeholders. In addition to the Manhattan visits, Rep. Mann and Under Secretary Lindberg toured the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and ADM Milling in Abilene.
As USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Lindberg has successfully implemented programs Rep. Mann has long-championed in Congress, including continued investment in the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development cooperator program, and now Food for Peace, America’s flagship international food assistance program. Under Secretary Lindberg recently oversaw the reassignment of Food for Peace back to its rightful home at USDA after Rep. Mann introduced legislation in the House to move the program, which was recently included in the 2026 Farm Bill.
“The Big First District is home to farmers, ranchers, producers, researchers, and agricultural leaders who help feed, fuel, and clothe the world,” said Rep. Mann. “I was grateful to host Under Secretary Lindberg in the Big First today to show him firsthand how Kansas State University and our hardworking producers are strengthening America’s food supply and expanding our ability to meet the needs of a hungry world. Food security is national security, and Kansas producers are at the center of making sure American-grown commodities remain at the heart of our global food aid programs like Food for Peace.”
“Kansas is at the epicenter of feeding the world,” said Under Secretary Lindberg. “Not only is it an exporting powerhouse for beef, wheat, corn, soybeans, sorghum, and other agricultural products that the world has come to enjoy; it's also the home to the American generosity of the global food security movement. I am thankful to Representative Mann and Senator Moran for showcasing the best of Kansas to me this week.”
“We were excited to have Under Secretary Lindberg, Senator Moran, and Congressman Mann visit the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center for an opportunity to talk about the importance of trade with leaders from Kansas commodities,” said Justin Gilpin, Kansas Wheat CEO. “He has a unique understanding of why producers need to be able to sell our products around the world to consistent buyers, especially in these times when there’s so much volatility and geopolitical uncertainty.”
Food for Peace began with an idea from Cheyenne County farmer Peter O’Brien, whose proposal to use surplus American commodities to feed hungry nations was adopted by Kansas Farm Bureau, sponsored in Congress by Kansas Senator Andy Schoeppel, and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 10, 1954. More than 70 years later, Kansas continues to lead in the work of feeding the world and strengthening American agriculture through global food assistance.
Luke Lindberg was recently nominated by President Trump to serve as the American candidate to be the next Executive Director of the World Food Programme, the largest humanitarian organization in the world, utilizing American agriculture as a tool with American leadership often at its helm.