Benjamin Thomas

Benjamin Thomas serves as the Senior Policy Director for Agriculture at the Environmental Defense Fund since January 2021, following a significant tenure as the Director of Agriculture for the Montana Department of Agriculture from January 2017 to December 2020. Prior experience includes roles at the USDA as Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Chief of Staff for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, as well as Senior Counsel for the Montana Delegation in the United States Senate. Thomas holds advanced degrees in law, including an LL.M in Food and Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law and a Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis. Additional experience encompasses legal positions at the Federal Trade Commission and the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General, alongside hands-on agricultural management as a Farm Manager.