MILFORD – Kip Tom, a seventh-generation farmer with operations around the world, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to be an ambassador to the United Nations for food and agriculture.

In announcing the choice Wednesday, the White House said Tom's agribusiness experience includes work in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

The longtime Leesburg resident currently serves on the boards of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Future Farmers of America Foundation and National 4-H Foundation.

Tom has been active with the Trump administration since falling in a bid for a seat in Congress to Rep. Jim Banks in the 2016 Republican primary. During the presidential campaign, Tom served on an agricultural advisory committee. After Trump’s victory in November 2016, Tom visited him at Trump Tower, where it was speculated he would be a nominee for Agriculture Department secretary. Tom also went to Indianapolis last fall to help promote Trump’s overhaul of the tax code.

While the nomination has been in process for a while now, Tom said, “It came as a surprise to me last August when I received a call from the chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee asking if I’d be willing to serve. I considered it for a little while, and then we started the process. And I can tell you it’s a long process to get to this point.”

If confirmed, Tom would oversee the U.S. government’s responsibility over the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

He said the Food and Agriculture Organization “is more about supporting development and capacity to produce food around the world. The World Food Program is more about immediate relief wherever that may be – Somalia, Yemen, you name it. The International Fund is a role of the World Bank.

“The three different agencies are based in Rome, Italy, and that’s where I’d be calling home for a few years. But I plan on being out in the field a lot, learning what is occurring and seeking solutions to alleviate poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity around the world.”

Tom said he’s going in knowing there’s a lot to know about specific situations.

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“There’s a lot that I need to learn about, and I’ve been doing that for the last 10-12 months. The reality is over the years I have been involved in philanthropic organizations like the Buffet Foundation, 4-H and, of course, the World Food Program in Afghanistan and Iraq, across central Africa and somewhat in Asia.

“I’ve had experience in those areas, and I know the need. We’ve been working together with some of the people in the Food Program about seeking some of the solutions. So I’m well abreast but there’s a lot of learning to do. I’d like to hit the ground running ... if confirmed. I’ve got to be confirmed first.”

The process from won’t take long, but will be rigorous.

“What will happen is there will be Senate hearings scheduled, and I’ll meet first in front of Senate committees over foreign affairs. They’ll question me for a couple of days, and I’ll have a lot of one-on-one meetings. Then if they feel confident, that committee will confirm or deny me, and if they confirm then it’ll go to the full Senate for a vote there.”

If confirmed, Tom would be the 11th person to serve in the role since its creation in 1983. He would succeed David J. Lane, who stepped down Aug. 9, 2016, to become president of the Annenberg Foundation Trust in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Arguably, the highest profile person to hold the position would be the late George McGovern, longtime congressman from South Dakota and the Democratic nominee for president in 1972. Those who serve in the position hold the office for about three years.

Tom would also join a pair of Hoosiers working on agriculture issues within the Trump administration. Ted McKinney, of Tipton, the former state agriculture secretary, is the undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Anne Hazlett, of Indianapolis, who helped create Indiana's Office of Community and Rural Affairs, is assistant to the secretary of agriculture for rural development.

This morning, U.S. Senators Todd Young and Joe Donnelly congratulated Tom on his nomination.

“Kip Tom is an outstanding Hoosier and a leader in the agriculture community. Kip’s significant experience in agriculture, business and humanitarian relief make him an excellent fit for this role. As we work to address food insecurity and malnutrition around the world, it’s important to have someone in this position who can represent our interests and values. We congratulate Kip on his nomination and look forward to voting for his confirmation,” the Senators said in a joint statement.

Tom said he should know whether or not he’s been confirmed sometime in August.