Stephen Censky


Stephen Lee Censky is an American businessman and government official who currently serves as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

Early life and education

Censky was raised on a soybean and corn farm near Jackson, Minnesota and received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University. He won the Truman Scholarship while at South Dakota State University in 1980, the first winner in the school's history. He later went on to earn a postgraduate diploma in agriculture science from the University of Melbourne.

Career

Censky served as a legislative assistant to United States Senator James Abdnor before holding several appointments in the United States Department of Agriculture, eventually rising to become Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service. He went on to serve as chief executive officer of the American Soybean Association, a position he held for 21 years. In 2017, he was nominated to the office of United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 3, 2017, by voice vote and was sworn in on October 11, 2017.

Personal life

Censky is married and has two daughters.