ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US — Tyllor Ledford on Aug. 16 joined US Wheat Associates (USW) as assistant director of the West Coast Office in Portland, Oregon, US. Ledford will fill the role left by Michael Anderson, who was promoted to market analyst earlier this year.
    “I am very excited to welcome Tyllor to US Wheat Associates,” said Steve Wirsching, USW vice president and West Coast director. “She brings essential skills developed during her time at Texas Tech University and has the people skills that will be important in her role as liaison between wheat farmers and overseas customers.

“She knows how to relate to wheat farmers and understands the challenges they face. She will be directly involved in planning and hosting overseas wheat buyers and highlighting the advantages of the US supply chain.” 

Ledford’s responsibilities will include assisting in both in-person and continued online programs and trade service activities for overseas customers. She also will assist in outreach to state wheat commissions and the grain trade and a range of assignments supporting USW’s export market development activities on behalf of US wheat farmers.

Ledford joins USW after recently completing a master’s degree in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech, where she also received a bachelor’s degree in the same concentration. As a part of her master’s program, Ledford’s research focused on the relationship between food security and conflict patterns in Africa. She also has gained valuable experience as a Texas Tech graduate research assistant, interning with Colorado State University Extension and through agribusiness academic immersion programs in China and Spain.

Ledford is a native of Colorado, where she grew up on her family’s quarter horse ranch.