ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has named a veteran of the poultry industry a new executive director and state veterinarian.
dr Marion Garcia has been a livestock veterinarian in the poultry industry for more than 20 years, a news release from the board said. She worked for a commercial poultry operation in veterinary school and continued in the industry until accepting her new position.
Her resume shows that she was the director of veterinary services for Hybrid Turkeys of Minneapolis.
Garcia served as a member of the US Army and US Army Reserve, achieving the rank of two-general until retiring from service in 2020.
Garcia holds a masters of veterinary public health and epidemiology and is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She is active in the National Poultry Improvement Plan and was recently elected to represent the Midwest at the national meeting.
“I’m excited to be joining the team at the Board of Animal Health. I have practiced in Minnesota for several years and have a high respect for the state’s producers and industry,” Garcia said in a news release.
Minnesota is the nation’s top turkey producing state and this year has been dealing with the effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza on the poultry industry.
Her resume says she led the Hybrid Turkeys response to the avian flu outbreak in three US states and one Canadian province. She also has experience in the beef cattle industry.
The board selected Garcia to succeed Dr. Beth Thompson, who left the agency in May for a similar position in South Dakota.