Matt Lohr
5th Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
Assumed office
January 15, 2022
GovernorGlenn Youngkin
Preceded byBettina Ring
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
In office
December 5, 2018 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
LeaderSonny Perdue
Preceded byJason Weller
Succeeded byTerry Cosby (acting)
Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
In office
May 1, 2010 – December 13, 2013
GovernorBob McDonnell
Preceded byTodd Haymore
Succeeded bySandra Adams
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 26th district
In office
January 11, 2006 – April 30, 2010
Preceded byGlenn Weatherholtz
Succeeded byTony Wilt
Personal details
Born (1971-08-28) August 28, 1971
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Andrea Lynch Lohr (1995–2011; her death)[1]
Children2
ResidenceBroadway, Virginia
Alma materVirginia Tech
Occupationfarmer, politician, and motivational speaker

Matthew James Lohr (born August 28, 1971) is an American politician. On January 15, 2022 Lohr was sworn in by Governor Glenn Youngkin as Virginia's 5th Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. In this role, he will serve in the governor's cabinet and oversee the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the Virginia Racing Commission. December 3, 2018 he was appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service,[2] he served until January 20, 2021. Lohr served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2006–2010, representing the 26th district in the Shenandoah Valley, made up of the city of Harrisonburg and part of Rockingham County. From May 1, 2010 until December 16, 2013, he served as the 14th Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Governor Robert F. McDonnell. From December 2013 until June 2017, Lohr worked for Farm Credit of the Virginias as director of the Knowledge Center. In this position he facilitated the sharing of knowledge and resources for the betterment of all farmers.

Lohr is a member of the Republican Party.[3][4]

While in the House, Lohr served on the committees of Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; Counties, Cities and Towns; and Finance.[3] He also served as chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee. During his time in office, he was presented "Legislator of the Year" awards from the Virginia Career and Technical Education Association and the Virginia Economic Development Association. In 2003 he won the American Farm Bureau "Excellence in Agriculture" Award as well as numerous farming and environmental stewardship honors.

Electoral history

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 26th district
Nov 8, 2005[5] General M J Lohr Republican 8,545 53.58
L L Fulk Democratic 7,353 46.11
Write Ins 50 0.31
Glenn Weatherholtz retired; seat stayed Republican
Nov 6, 2007[6] General Matthew J. "Matt" Lohr Republican 8,166 71.07
Carolyn W. Frank 3,269 28.45
Write Ins 55 0.47
Nov 3, 2009[7] General Matthew J. "Matt" Lohr Republican 11,328 73.03
A. Gene Hart, Jr. Democratic 4,170 26.88
Write Ins 12 0.07

Notes

  1. ↑ "Obituaries: Andrea Lynch Lohr". Grandle Funeral Home, Inc.
  2. ↑ Chase, Spencer (December 3, 2018). "Perdue Names Lohr New NRCS Chief". Agri-Pulse.
  3. 1 2 "Virginia House of Delegates; Session 2010; Lohr, Matthew J. (Matt)". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  4. ↑ "Commissioner's Message". Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Archived from the original on 2006-10-28. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  5. ↑ "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  6. ↑ "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
  7. ↑ "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2013-05-29.


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