Jenny Lester Moffitt
Senior Fellow
Jenny Lester Moffitt is deeply committed to caring for the land and the people who farm it. She serves as Senior Fellow at American Farmland Trust, bringing decades of experience in agricultural policy, conservation, and food systems transformation. As Senior Fellow, Jenny’s work focuses on enhancing the vitality of rural America by supporting farmers and ranchers in building diverse, profitable, and resilient farming operations now and into the future.
Most recently, Jenny served as the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture – the first woman to hold this position. At USDA, she championed efforts to create market opportunities for U.S. producers and safeguard agricultural and natural resources. Previously, Jenny served as Undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where she led the state’s climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
A fifth-generation California farmer, Jenny grew up on her family’s organic walnut farm and processing operation, later returning to lead sales and marketing before becoming Managing Director. Notably, her career in agriculture began at American Farmland Trust as a conservation and farmland information specialist.
Jenny is a graduate of Brown University and the California Agricultural Leadership Program. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and their teenage daughter.
