Biography
Leonard M. Blackham
Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food

Leonard M. Blackham was appointed Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food January 5, 2005 by Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. Commissioner Blackham becomes the state’s 6th Commissioner since Utah adopted the single commissioner structure.

Commissioner Blackham has served as the vice president and manager of Moroni Feed’s Feed Division. He has also served as board member and chairman.

Leonard grew up raising turkeys on the family farm in Moroni, Utah and has been a turkey farmer all of his professional life.

Agriculture is his family heritage. His grandfather was a sheepman and his father was a turkey grower. From his youth he owned dairy cows, horses, chickens, and 4-H turkeys. FFA was a big part of his teenage life.

The turkey business in Sanpete is a fully integrated operation that includes all aspects from the hatching, feeding, processing, government inspection and marketing of turkeys. Moroni Feed Company employees over 800 people in central and southern Utah and is largest employer in the region.

Over the years he has been associated with the Utah Farm Bureau where he has served on state and national advisory poultry boards, the county board and many special taskforces. The Utah Farm Bureau has recognized him with the “Friend of Agriculture” award.

He was uniquely honored with the “Distinguished Service Award” from Utah State University ’s College of Agriculture in 2003.

Commissioner Blackham has extensive experience in the political arena. Prior to his time spent in the Utah Legislature, he served on the Sanpete County Commission for four years. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Leonard served for 12 years in the Utah Senate, with 10 of those years in leadership roles.

His leadership positions include:

Majority Whip (1995 - 2000)
Majority Leader (2000)
Senate Chair of Rural Caucus (1994-2004)
Executive Appropriations Senate Chair (2001-2004)
Energy Policy Task Force Senate Chair (1998-2004)
Legislative Process Committee Senate Chair (1995-2004)
Lands Conservation Task Force Senate Chair (1996)
Legislative Child Care Task Force Senate Chair (1999)
State Water Development Commission Senate Chair (1998-2002)
Applied Technology Education Task Force Senate Chair (2001)
Member Standing and Interim Ag, Natural Resources, Health and Taxation

Leonard earned an associate’s degree at Snow College and a bachelor’s in agriculture economics from Utah State University. Heand his wife, Laura, reside in Moroni and are parents to six children and seven grandchildren.

Scouting, and the wonders of the outdoors play an important part in his life.