40 Under Forty alumni: Ashley Randle, Class of 2022 - leads state department of agriculture
Ashley Randle in 2022 and 2024
Photo | Christine Peterson
40 Under Forty winners and alumni who visited Red Apple Farm in Phillipston were (from left) Racquel Knight (Class of 2024), Ashley Randle (Class of 2022), Tori Buerschaper (Class of 2024), Nancy Rose (Class of 2010), Albert Rose (Class of 2010), and Andrew Shepherd (Class of 2024).
- Then Deputy commissioner at Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources, in Southborough
- Now Commissioner at Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources
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In the short time since she was honored as a 40 Under Forty in 2022, Randle has risen to the top of the department tasked with nurturing the state’s agricultural industry, becoming the first female leader in the 100+ year history of MDAR.
She was immediately put to the test in 2023, when a February freeze, March frost, and July flooding wreaked havoc on the region’s farmers. She worked with the Worcester-based nonprofit United Way of Central Massachusetts, and more than $3 million was raised in the immediate aftermath to support farmers in Central and Western Massachusetts. As an overall result of the year’s extreme weather, the department issued $20+ million in funding to 347 farms to aid recovery, the first time direct governmental aid had been provided to Massachusetts farmers due to natural disaster impacts. Looking toward the future, in December Randle’s MDAR released a Farmland Action Plan to help farms become more resilient against future challenges. She led the creation of the first-ever Massachusetts Agriculture Youth Council, composed of high school students from around the state. In May, her career success was acknowledged by her alma mater when she was invited to deliver the graduate commencement address at Western New England University.
What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? Receiving the 40u40 award motivated me to continue to make an impact in both my personal and professional circles. It reaffirmed my work in my community was making a positive difference in the lives of those around me, particularly in the agricultural sector.
What does it mean to you now? The award has empowered me to mentor other young female professionals in public service and serves as a reminder to always leave the ladder down so others can continue to climb too.
What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Leave room to participate, to pursue goals rooted in the common good. Collaboration is our strongest currency and will only get stronger through your individual and collective efforts.
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