Farm policy expert Mary Kay Thatcher to discuss evolving ag policy landscape at James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics will host Mary Kay Thatcher, agricultural policy expert and farm bill specialist, as the guest speaker for the 2026 James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 17 in the College of Agriculture’s Deans Auditorium (Room 241), located in David C. Pfendler Hall, 715 Mitch Daniels Blvd.
Since beginning her career in 1981 as an agricultural legislative assistant to Roger Jepsen, Thatcher has helped shape nine farm bills, contributing to legislation such as the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 while advancing improvements to crop insurance programs and agricultural data privacy standards. Thatcher’s lecture, “It’s Not Your Parents’ Ag Policy Environment,” will examine the rapidly evolving agricultural policy landscape, including the upcoming election, potential changes in Congress and the challenges and opportunities shaping agriculture’s future.
“Agricultural policy today looks very different from what it did even a generation ago,” Thatcher said. “Understanding those changes is essential as farmers, agribusiness leaders and policymakers think about the future of the farm safety net and the broader agricultural economy.”
With more than four decades of experience in agricultural policy, Thatcher has held leadership roles at the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Farm Credit Administration, on Capitol Hill and at Syngenta. She currently serves as president of MK Thatcher Consulting and operates her family’s Iowa farm.
The 51st annual lecture continues the tradition of bringing distinguished thought leaders in economics and business to Purdue University. The James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture was established in 1975 in honor of a respected Purdue professor whose pioneering research in agricultural economics and quantitative analysis left a lasting impact on the field. Snyder’s contributions to education, industry and research continue to inspire generations of scholars and professionals.
For more information about the event, visit the James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture website or contact Tracy Buck at tbuck08@purdue.edu, 765-494-4191.
About Purdue Agriculture
Purdue University’s College of Agriculture is one of the world’s leading colleges of agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences. The college is committed to preparing students to make a difference in whatever careers they pursue; stretching the frontiers of science to discover solutions to some of our most pressing global, regional and local challenges; and, through Purdue Extension and other engagement programs, educating the people of Indiana, the nation and the world to improve their lives and livelihoods. To learn more about Purdue Agriculture, visit this site.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.
Writer: Morgan French, mmfrench@purdue.edu, 765-494-6999
Event Contact: Tracy Buck, tbuck08@purdue.edu, 765-494-4191
Agricultural Communications: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu, 765-494-8415