Mike Naig grew up on a family farm in the northwest corner of the state near Cylinder, Iowa. Early in his life, he learned the value of hard work by helping his dad and uncle run their crop and livestock farm. He continues to be involved in the operation today.
Naig served as Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture since September 2013 and was appointed to the position of Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture by Governor Kim Reynolds on March 5, 2018 when his predecessor, Bill Northey, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as USDA Undersecretary. He was elected to a full term as Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture on Nov. 6, 2018. Naig is committed to leading efforts to protect consumers, expanding economic opportunities for Iowans and advocating in Iowa and around the globe on behalf of the hard-working men and women who keep us fed and fueled.
Naig has led the initiative for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, supports trade policies that expand Iowa's markets and believes in encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in agriculture. As Deputy Secretary, he was responsible for the operations of the department, specifically policy, budget and personnel. He also regularly travelled across the state and on international trade missions. Before joining the Department, Naig had been active in the agribusiness industry for more than 13 years, having served in public policy roles for state and national trade associations and in private industry. He is a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with degrees in biology and political science. Naig and his wife, Jaime, have three boys.
