USA Rice CEO Betsy Ward, along with the USA Rice Government Affairs team, present Carley Esser with her Congressional Staff Award (from left): Josie McLaurin, Jamison Cruce, Betsy Ward, Carley Esser, and Peter Bachmann
Mar 03, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC -- This week during the DC Fly-In, USA Rice presented Carley Esser with the 2023 USA Rice Outstanding Congressional Staff Award in appreciation for her contributions to the U.S. rice industry.
Esser is a Missouri native and professional staff member for the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, working under the leadership of the Committee’s Ranking Member Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and responsible for the commodity and crop insurance portfolio. Prior to joining Senator Boozman’s team, she spent several years as legislative assistant to former Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and had a brief stint at the U.S. Grains Council. She is a Mizzou graduate where she studied agricultural education.
“From time-to-time, USA Rice recognizes public servants who support our industry in ways that go above and beyond the call of duty and who oftentimes work behind the scenes to make big things happen, contributing greatly to our industry’s successes here in Washington,” said Arkansas rice farmer Mark Isbell when he introduced Carley at the fly-in kick-off breakfast on Tuesday. “Carley has been a big help on numerous fronts, and most recently, played a major role in delivering financial assistance specifically for U.S. rice farmers.”
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward presented Carley with a framed print of an Arkansas rice field in thanks for a job well done.