President-elect Trump has appointed Brooke Rollins as his Secretary of Agriculture.

In a statement on Saturday, Trump praised Rollins’ “commitment to support the American farmer, the defense of American food self-sufficiency and the recovery of agriculture-dependent American small towns.”

“Brooke, a proud graduate of Texas A&M University, earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Development and JD with honors,” the announcement said. “From her upbringing in the small, agriculture-oriented town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her longtime leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generative Family Farming background, to mentoring her four children in their show cattle careers, Brooke has hands-on experience, along with deep policy references in both nonprofit and government leadership at the state and national levels.”

“As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will lead efforts to protect America’s farmers, who are truly the backbone of our country,” Trump said. “Congratulations Brook!”

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Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of AFPI, is seen during the America First Policy Institute’s America First Agenda Summit at the Marriott Marquis, July 26, 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Rollins, who grew up on a farm in Glen Rose, Texas, was a surprise choice for the position. Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., who met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Friday afternoon, was rumored to fill the position ahead of Trump’s official announcement on Saturday.

Rollins was previously rumored to have been shortlisted for Trump’s appointment as chief of staff — which was ultimately awarded to longtime ally Susie Wiles.

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Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration.

Since her time in the Trump White House, Rollins co-founded the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute think tank.

President-elect Trump has appointed Brooke Rollins as his Secretary of Agriculture. (Fox News)

If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead an agency with 100,000 employees and offices in every county in the country. The role includes agriculture and food management, forestry, food security, rural development, agricultural research and more.

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It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.