Amanda Beal Confirmed Commissioner of Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Augusta, MAINE - Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement today in response to the Maine Senate’s unanimous confirmation of her final cabinet nominee Amanda Beal to lead the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF):
“I am pleased the Senate has confirmed Amanda to serve as our next Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry,” said Governor Mills. “With her immense talents, knowledge and experience, she will be an excellent leader for the Department and will assemble a team of committed public servants who are good listeners and have a lot of common-sense and a bit of dirt under their nails. I look forward to working with Amanda in the years to come.”
Beal, 46, grew up on a dairy farm and earned a B.A. from the University of Southern Maine and holds a Master’s Degree in agriculture, food and environment from Tufts University. She is working on her doctorate in natural resources from the University of New Hampshire. She lives in Warren, where she and her husband own a 35-acre farm and are working to establish an orchard with numerous fruit varieties, manage their 25-acre woodlot, and establish a creamery for on-farm cheese production.
Beal’s confirmation rounds out Mills’ 15-member cabinet which includes eight women, three distinguished veterans, and four commissioners who have resumed their former cabinet positions.
“After a fourteen-member search committee worked to recruit the most qualified and well-respected Mainers, I am honored the Senate has confirmed all of my cabinet nominees. They are experienced individuals who will help usher in an era of new leadership in Maine,” added Governor Mills. “From lowering the cost of health care to addressing our workforce shortage, there are many challenges facing our state – but with these challenges also comes the opportunity to chart a new and better course. With the cabinet now in place, I look forward to working with them on behalf of the people of Maine.”
Governor Mills’ cabinet:
- Amanda Beal, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
- Jeanne Lambrew, Department of Health and Human Services
- Michael Sauschuck, Department of Public Safety
- Randall Liberty, Department of Corrections
- A. Pender Makin, Department of Education
- Anne Head, Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
- Kirsten Figueroa, Department of Administrative and Financial Services
- Bruce Van Note, Department of Transportation
- Laura Fortman, Department of Labor
- Heather Johnson, Department of Economic and Community Development
- Judith Camuso, Department of Inland, Fisheries and Wildlife
- Gerald Reid, Department of Environmental Protection
- Patrick Keliher, Department of Marine Resources
- Major Douglas Farnham, Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management
- John Rohde, Workers’ Compensation Board