Brooke Rollins: From Texas Roots to Secretary of Agriculture
Brooke Leslie Rollins, born on April 10, 1972, has carved a remarkable path from her Texas upbringing to becoming the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture in 2025. A lawyer and Republican politician, Rollins' journey is marked by a strong foundation in agriculture, a commitment to public service, and a drive to lead.
Early Life and Education in Texas
Rollins was born in Glen Rose, Texas, a small town outside Fort Worth. She grew up on her family’s farm, developing a strong foundation in agriculture through hands-on experience. Rollins spent summers working on her family’s farm in Minnesota and participated in all levels of 4-H and FFA. She continues to raise livestock today and is now passing her passion for agriculture on to her children, who are also involved in FFA and showing steers.
Rollins attended Glen Rose High School where she participated in Future Farmers of America, 4-H, and was a state officer for the Texas FFA Association. During her Senate confirmation hearing, Rollins acknowledged the impact of the Texas FFA Association and of her former advisor, saying, “My incredible ag teacher, who I would like to have stand up - Mr. Gary Rosenbusch - put up with a lot from this FFA’er. I’ve often said that the Future Farmers of America changed my life and put me on a course that leads me to today, and Mr. Gary Rosenbusch is here.” There were 10 of us, the other nine all came. Ag teachers, insurance agents, workers of the land - they’re all here.
When Rollins joined the FFA program at Glen Rose, “She came into the program because she loved horses. She had a horse, rode horses, and she wanted to compete on horses,” he said. Rollins was not your typical FFA student. In contrast to most of her classmates, who were raised in farm families, Rollins’ family had relocated to Texas from Minnesota. Brooke Rollins is the fourth from left, while Gary Rosenbusch is on the right. “She was always willing to jump in and take on whatever challenge was put in front of her,” Rosenbusch recalled. “I was probably as strong on the leadership side of things as anything, and I pushed my students to get involved in speaking events, running for office, and gaining experience in all aspects of agriculture. Rollins didn’t just participate in FFA; she thrived in it. “She was on the state-winning farm radio team,” Rosenbusch said. In addition to her speaking abilities, Rollins was involved in livestock competitions. “She showed goats, and at our county show, we had a horse event that she participated in before it was phased out,” he said.
Beyond her FFA accomplishments, Rollins demonstrated a natural ability to lead. “We all knew she was going to make it to D.C. Rollins’ public speaking skills were tested in her confirmation hearings, where she fielded pointed questioning from senators, some of whom tried to trip her up during the hearings. “A couple of the senators came back with second-round questions, trying to throw her off, but she pretty well put them in their place,” he said. “She’s a quick thinker.
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Rollins made sure to acknowledge the impact of those who had helped her along the way. She spoke with her former advisor before the hearing, taking a moment to reflect on the journey that had led her there. “She felt like we did something in her youth that mattered, and she wanted to recognize that,” Rosenbusch said. “Your heart swells when you see something like that. For the former FFA members in the audience, Rollins’ presence at the hearing was a powerful reminder of the influence that agricultural education can have. “It wasn’t just about policy,” Rosenbusch said. The values Rollins developed in FFA - hard work, leadership, and a deep respect for agriculture - have remained with her throughout her career. “I always told my students to remember where they came from,” Rosenbusch said. “And she does.
Higher Education and Legal Career
After high school, Rollins attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a B.S. in agricultural development in 1994. While at Texas A&M, Rollins was the first woman to be elected student body president. She also served as the speaker pro tempore of the Student Senate, the chair of the Texas A&M Judicial Court, as a Fish Camp counselor, and was Cotton Bowl Classic Queen. “It is always great to see Texas A&M represented in government, but we’re especially excited to see Aggies in the President’s cabinet,” said John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. “Secretary Rollins is a shining example of the outstanding leaders we develop here at Texas A&M,” said General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University. “She has a long list of accomplishments both in and out of the agricultural field and has carried the Aggie Core Values with her throughout her outstanding career. And now, she will share that commitment to excellence and selfless service with the American people. Aggies everywhere are beaming with pride for her today.
In 2007, Rollins became the first female speaker at the College Station Aggie Muster, which honors deceased Texas A&M former students. Rollins later obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, graduating with honors. After law school, Rollins worked as an commercial litigator at Hughes & Luce, LLP in Dallas for several years. Federal District Court Judge Barbara M. Lynn for the Northern District of Texas.
Rise in Public Policy and Government Service
In 2003, Wendy Gramm, a professor at Texas A&M and wife of U.S Senator Phil Gramm, tapped Rollins to run the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a conservative think tank. Rollins served as the organization's president and CEO until 2018. During her tenure at TPPF, the think tank grew from having a staff of three to a staff of 100. In 2011, Texas Monthly named Rollins one of the 25 most powerful Texans.
Rollins previously served as deputy general counsel, ethics advisor, and policy director to Texas governor Rick Perry, where together they advanced many agricultural priorities. In February 2018, it was reported that Rollins would replace Reed Cordish, who served as an assistant for intergovernmental and technology initiatives, within the Office of American Innovation. Rollins was influential in encouraging the passage of the First Step Act, legislation that reforms the nation's prison system and seeks to reduce recidivism. In her first public interview as acting director of the Domestic Policy Council, Rollins said she was focused on finding bipartisan solutions to address the murder of George Floyd. She said the White House was "working through a list of solutions and possibilities" and that she wanted to make the issue "a unifying force for this country".
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Rollins was also part of the White House Office of American Innovation. In May 2020, President Trump named Rollins acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council. When she became acting director, the country was experiencing the massive protests after George Floyd was killed. Rollins was the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, founded in 2021 to plan and promote Trump's public policy agenda, as well as file election lawsuits in battleground states. In 2021, Rollins and Larry Kudlow co-founded America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank that helped plan the policy agenda for a second Trump administration.
Secretary of Agriculture
In 2025, Brooke Rollins assumed the role of Secretary of Agriculture, becoming the second woman to hold the position after Ann Veneman. She appeared before the Senate Committee on Agriculture on January 23, 2025. The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced Rollins' nomination in a unanimous vote on February 3, 2025. The Senate confirmed Brooke Rollins to lead USDA.
As Secretary of Agriculture, Rollins has addressed critical issues facing American farmers. She opposed the California farm animal welfare law Proposition 12 in 2018, which prohibits the sale of food products raised in intensive battery cages, gestation crates, and veal crates, and supported efforts to overturn it on a federal level. In her confirmation hearing in January 2025, Rollins told Senator Joni Ernst that she would work with Congress on legislation to preempt certain state animal welfare laws.
On June 23, 2025, Rollins announced an end to the "roadless rule" that was put into place by President Bill Clinton just before he left office in 2001. The rule had prevented any road construction on 58 million acres of national forest land. Rollins explained "President Trump is removing absurd obstacles to common-sense management of our natural resources by rescinding the overly restrictive roadless rule." In August 2025, Rollins moved forward with ending this "roadless rule", which will affect around 45 million acres of land in the national forest.
Despite criticisms that she may prioritize large agricultural operations over smaller family farms, Rollins has vowed to advocate for all sectors of agriculture. “Agriculture is surpassingly important to us as a nation,” she testified.
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