Iowa’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Karey Claghorn, was appointed to the position in January of 2007 by Bill Northey, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture.  In this position, Karey is continuing her lifelong involvement in agriculture that started as she grew up on a livestock farm near Bloomington, Indiana.

Karey graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington and later moved with her family to Iowa.  She currently lives on a farm in rural Warren County, growing row crops, hay and running a small cow-calf operation.

Previously she served as executive director for the American Hampshire Sheep Association. There she developed Associated Sheep Registries and designed and developed practices to increased revenue and membership participation.

Karey has traveled worldwide to learn more about different farming practices and see first hand the importance of trade to agriculture.  Her travels have taken her to Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil, Iceland, Mexico, Canada, Aruba and Cuba.

Karey and her husband, Alan, are actively involved in raising thoroughbreds.  They have 3 children; Joshua, Erin and Emily.