Mr. Patrice Bailey was appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner in June 2019. Bailey oversees Outreach, Agricultural Marketing and Development, Dairy and Meat Inspection, and Food and Feed Safety for the MDA. Bailey, a native of Harlem, New York, holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education from Prairie View A&M University (Texas) and has a master’s degree in agriculture and Life Sciences from Iowa State University and was inspired by a world renowned African American scientist, George Washington Carver, also an Iowa State Alumni.  Bailey is the first Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture of color in Minnesota State History since 1885. Bailey has oversight for the following Divisions: Dairy and Meat Inspection, Food and Feed Safety Division, Ag Marketing and Development and Emerging Farmer work.  After receiving his Master’s degree, Bailey moved to the Twin Cities in 2005, where he has served the Twin Cities in several positions prior to state service. With his first position at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS). Bailey in previous positions focused on bridging gaps within underrepresented communities of color to various available resources and advocating for them legislatively at the State Capitol. Bailey was instrumental in creating the Emerging Farmers Working Group (EFWG) and the Emerging Farmer Office (EFO) which is the first office, Minnesota’s first Agriculture license plate which supports Agriculture for All.