Report: Nebraska's Charles Herbster a candidate to be Trump's ag secretary

Charles Herbster, the wealthy Falls City cattle producer who finished second in Nebraska's Republican gubernatorial primary in 2022, is among the candidates to be President-elect Donald Trump's U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, according to the news outlet Politico .

Herbster, who was an agricultural adviser to Trump during his first presidency and who donated more than $450,000 to support Trump's bid for the White House, is among at least five candidates Trump is considering for the position, Politico reported Tuesday.

In a social media post Tuesday afternoon, Herbster said it "would be a distinct honor" to be considered for the post and noted the Politico lists "many well-qualified candidates."

Politco reported that Trump is also considering appointing Sarah Frey, the founder of Frey Farms; Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller; former Trump official Kip Tom; and Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

"I ask that you keep me in your prayers over this appointment and for guidance if given an opportunity to serve," wrote Herbster, who did not return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.

Herbster became a familiar figure at White House events during his previous stint as an agricultural adviser.

Herbster has long been an ally to Trump, who endorsed the Conklin CEO's 2022 run for governor and came to Nebraska ahead of that year's primary to campaign for Herbster , who was the runner-up to Gov. Jim Pillen.

In the waning weeks of the 2022 primary race, Herbster was publicly accused of previously groping multiple women — including a conservative state lawmaker — in allegations that he denied and cast as a "smear attack."

More recently, Herbster chaired the Rural Americans for Trump Coalition as a part of the president-elect's successful race this year for the White House.

A millionaire who poured $11 million into his own race for governor two years ago, Herbster has donated $452,500 to the Trump 47 Committee and Make America Great Again, Inc. since the start of 2023, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

If appointed to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Herbster would be the first Nebraskan to head the agency since then-Gov. Mike Johanns left the state in 2005 to serve as the secretary of agriculture for the final two years of President George W. Bush's second term.

Clayton Yeutter, who was born and raised Eustis and later taught agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, served in the role under President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1991.

In 1969, University of Nebraska Chancellor Clifford Hardin left his post to become President Richard Nixon's secretary of agriculture, a position he held until 1971.

Julius Sterling Morton — who moved to the Nebraska Territory before it achieved statehood in 1867 and edited the Nebraska City News, served as a lawmaker and twice served as the territory's acting governor — was the secretary of agriculture under President Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897.

Photos, videos: Trump visits Nebraska in support of Herbster

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State government reporter