Dr. Richard “Dick” Crowder

Dick Crowder has spent more than 50 years in senior executive and policy positions in the food and agriculture industry, advancing the interests of farmers, ranchers, and the industries that produce food and fiber.

He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in Agricultural Economics. Before joining the U.S. Trade Representative office, he served as CEO of the American Seed Trade Association. His 30 plus years of domestic and international private sector experience includes senior management positions in a number of companies throughout the food industry including The Pillsbury Company, Armour-Swift Eckridge, DEKALB Genetics and Wilson & Co.

From January 2006 until May 2007, he served as the U.S. Chief Agriculture Negotiator where he was responsible for directing all U.S. agriculture negotiations worldwide including multilateral negotiations in the WTO as well as regional and bilateral negotiations. He served as a senior advisor to the United States Trade Representative from May 2007 until April 2008.

He served as Under Secretary International Affairs and Commodity Programs for the United States Department of Agriculture from 1989- 1992. In this role he was responsible for all USDA agencies dealing with international trade and development as well as domestic farm programs.

He led the agriculture negotiations for the United States in the Uruguay Round and managed the 1990 Farm Bill process.

Dr. Crowder joined ASTA as Executive Vice President. During his tenure he significantly raised the awareness and stature of the Association with the USDA, the White House as well as the Agriculture Committees of the US Senate and House of Representative. Managing the affairs of the Association, Dick implemented policies, negotiated agreements, and managed staff to strengthen financial stability and productivity. Dick worked tirelessly to enhance ASTA relationships and effectiveness with state, national and international seed industry organizations as well as related agricultural entities. Relying on guidance from ASTA General Counsel, while seeking to strengthen the organizational structure of the Association, the Board voted to designate the leader selected and elected by the membership as Chair. Thus, Dr. Crowder became the first management professional to be named as President and CEO of ASTA. During and since his tenure, Dr. Crowder’s leadership as well as his vast connections in government, the seed industry and agriculture in general brought ASTA into a new era of prominence and effectiveness.

Dr. Crowder has received numerous awards, including the Virginia Tech Alumnus of the Millennium award in 2000, the Virginia Tech Agriculture Alumni Hall of Fame, and Outstanding Alumni Award from the Virginia Tech Graduate School. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Office of the United States Trade Representative. In 2013, he received the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his career of service to agriculture. Richard received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech University and earned his doctoral degree from Oklahoma State University.