doi:10.7916/e8eh-6p17Oral history interview with Kathleen A. Merrigan, 2022Merrigan, Kathleen (Kathleen Ann), 1959-oral historiesmixed materialPresidents--United StatesWomen farmers--United StatesMinority farmers--United StatesSchool children--Food--United StatesCrops and climate--United StatesAgriculture--Environmental aspects--United StatesClimatic changes--United StatesMerrigan, Kathleen (Kathleen Ann), 1959-Obama, BarackSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (U.S.)United States. Department of AgricultureUnited StatesUnited States. White House Task Force on Childhood ObesityAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Kathleen Merrigan discusses her contribution to the agriculture policy of the Obama administration, in which she served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2009 to 2013. Merrigan outlines the remarkable scope of USDA operations, and describes her efforts to implement new initiatives throughout the agency's bureaucracy. She provides details about her work focused on local and regional food systems, including the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative; negotiations over appropriations for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2008 and 2014 farm bills; the administration of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and efforts to support women farmers, new farmers, and farmers and ranchers of color. Merrigan also describes her involvement in administration efforts to promote childhood health and nutrition, including by her service on the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, support for farm-to-school programs and the improved quality of school meals, and the development of USDA's MyPlate icon, which replaced the food pyramid. Also discussed are Merrigan's collaboration with the East Wing's childhood nutrition initiatives, the effect of the first lady's messaging around gardening and healthy eating, USDA's historical approach to organic and alternative agriculture, the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and the reception to discussion of climate change in rural America, the effects of agricultural consolidation on the rural economy, and the disappearance of traditional family farming