Walter N. Peechatka is Senior Advisor and former Executive Vice President of PennAg Industries Association, a non-profit association representing agricultural businesses involved in feed, seed, poultry, pesticides, fertilizers, and allied industries.

A native of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, Mr. Peechatka graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in 1961 with a B.S. in Forestry and served with the United States Army from 1962 to 1964.

Throughout his career, Mr. Peechatka has held various positions with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture which include Director, Bureau of Plant Industry, Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs, Acting Secretary, and Executive Deputy Secretary. He has also worked with the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America and the Department of Environmental Resources.

Mr. Peechatka was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Conservation Districts, the Presidential Citation from the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts Exemplary Service Award, and the Meritorious Service Award from Governor Thornburgh.

Mr. Peechatka was elected to the Board of Trustees by the delegates from the agricultural societies for a three-year term beginning July 2002 and was reelected for a succeeding term.

October 2007