Wade will supervise the division that monitors products and services to ensure quality
Matthew Wade has been named the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA)Director for the Consumer and Industry Services (CIS) Division. Wade, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where he earned his B.S. in Agribusiness and a Master of Business Administration, joined TDA in February as a business consultant focused on the livestock sector, particularly meat and dairy processing and expanding value-added ventures for Tennessee farmers, according to the TDA.
Before TDA, Wade spent nearly three decades with Middle Tennessee State University serving as the director of the university’s farm laboratories, overseeing operations and staff of the multi-unit 900-acre experiential learning and research centers.
Matthew Wade
“Matthew’s extensive experience with guiding diverse teams, managing laboratory and farming operations, and navigating regulatory requirements make him a great fit for this role,” Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “Since joining TDA, stakeholders have benefited from Matthew’s leadership in a variety of ways, including from his work to form the Tennessee Association of Meat Producers and his hosting of a delegation from India seeking agribusiness opportunities in Tennessee.”
As Director for CIS, Wade will supervise the division that monitors a wide range of materials, products and services to ensure quality, consumer protection, public safety and a fair marketplace.
CIS administers programs and licensing for:
- food and dairy
- weights and measures
- fuel quality
- agricultural inputs
- grain dealers and warehouses
- pesticides
- plant health
- prevention of youth access to tobacco
“I look forward to this great opportunity to work with Commissioner Hatcher’s office and the knowledgeable CIS team,” Wade said. “CIS is best known for offering excellence in service to customers and industry partners across this great state. It will be an honor to continue that tradition.”
Wade and his wife, Krista, raise beef cattle on their family farm in Bell Buckle.
Image by wirestock on Freepik.
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