Maggie Goode first Native American appointed to federal board

By Lailani Upham

Maggie Goode and grandson Wyatt on four-wheeler at the McDonald ranch in Niarada. (courtesy photo)

NIARADA — Maggie Goode, CSKT member and third generation cattle producer, was appointed last April by United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation board of directors.

Goode is the first Native American to be appointed to serve on the board and the first from the state of Montana.

The Risk Management Agency manages the FCIC and falls under the Department of Agriculture. RMA's goal is to strengthen the economic stability of agriculture producers in the U.S.

According to recent article in Indian Country Today attributed the RMA website as reporting 256 million acres of insured crops with a value at approximately $78 billion. It stated that there were 1.14 million policies in 2010 with a premium volume of $7.5 billion. Sara Buettner-Connelly, assistant to RMA Administrator William J. Murphy stated that a little more than $4.5 billion in premium subsidies were provided to producers in 2010. "This helps the producers manage their business risks. They have a lot of money on the line and you never know what natural events are going to happen."

The FCIC consists of a ten-member board, with each being nominated to and then selected and appointed for a four-year term by the Department of Agriculture Secretary. Goode said, she is still unaware of who may have nominated her for the position.

Goode said, she is honored for the appointment and is pleased that a tribal member will be involved in the decision making process. "Tribes need involvement at all levels; county, state and federal," she added.

According to Goode, the house on the left was the second house built on the McDonald ranch in 1885; the barn on the left was built in 1890. (courtesy photo)

Goode, a farm industry appointee from Niarada runs a cow/calf operation with her son, grandsons and brother. "My son Todd manages the ranch with the help of my brother Nick Lefthand, who has contributed to the success of the ranch for most of his 82 years. My grandsons Boston and Wyatt show promise of continuing the family legacy, that has been the backbone of the McDonald family for longer than the last century."

Goode has a long historical tie and service to the Tribes. According to Goode, her grandfather Angus McDonald was statesman and traveled to Washington D.C. on government business, representing the Tribes back in the early 1900's. "My grandfather's foresight in filing water rights in 1898 both with state and the federal government still benefit the ranch today. The ranch could not operate without the water, it is the reason he came to the Niarada area," she explained. He died in 1924 and her grandmother, Anne McDonald took over running the ranch until 1955. Her parents came to manage the ranch after that, she said. Goode said despite many attempts by men to run her grandmother over while continuing the fight for water rights, she stood strong. "She was a very, strong and independent woman, who worked long and hard hours irrigating the fields and feeding her family and hired help. I admire her very much."

Her grandfather built the house Goode lives in today in 1900.

In 2001, Goode received the USDA Farm Service Producer of the Year award, and in 2005 she received the USDA Farm Services Volunteer of the Year award. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Eagle Bank, one of the few tribally-owned banks in the country. She is a former FSA County Committee member from Sanders County and serves on the CSKT Agriculture Advisory Committee. Goode is also a former Tribal Council Representative from the Hot Springs district and is a past director for the Montana Cattlemen's Association. She is also a lifelong member, volunteer, and supporter of 4-H.

Goode is currently employed as a Juvenile Probation Officer for the Tribes.

According to the agency, the Board delegates to the manager of the FCIC certain authorities and powers. The Board approves any new policy, plan of insurance or major modification to an existing plan or other materials under procedures that are established by the board. During her service on the board Goode said her goals are to make decisions that will help producers, large and small, stay on the family farms or ranches. "The board has an impact on production agriculture with every decision we make. It is important to me that there is a future for the next generations like my grandsons, and the 135 Ag producers on the reservation," she added.

During her board service she will be required to travel to Washington D.C. four times a year. According to Goode, the appointment will also take a week out of the year for travel to Kansas City for financial planning and budget meeting.

Buettner-Connelly, said Goode's appointment strengthens the Obama administrations commitment to diversity and Vilsacks's dedication to bringing an American Indian voice to the department.