Pierre Woman Appointed To Serve As State Director Of USDA Rural Development

PIERRE, (KCCR) — A Pierre woman has been appointed by U-S Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to serve with U-S-D-A’s Farm Service Agency. Lorraine Polak will serve as State Director for U-S-D-A Rural Development. Polak served as executive director of the South Dakota Housing Authority and was most recently serving as a Housing Policy Specialist with U-S Senator Mike Rounds. Polak has 30 years of public service in the housing and economic development realm. At the same time as Polak’s appointment, former state Representative Roger Chase of Huron has been appointed state Director of the Farm Service Agency in South Dakota. Chase has an extensive background in business and agriculture as a Realtor and owning his own farm operation. Chase was termed out of the House after this year, serving eight years from 2017 to 2024. During his time in the Legislature, Chase chaired the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee and chaired a summer study on affordable housing. The positions are Presidential appointments to the U-S-D-A.