Director and Deputy Director

 Dan Newhouse, Director

Dan Newhouse was appointed director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture by Gov. Chris Gregoire effective Feb. 18, 2009. Dan and his wife, Carol, operate a 600-acre farm near Sunnyside where they grow hops, tree fruit, grapes and alfalfa.

As WSDA director, Dan oversees an agency responsible for animal health, plant inspections, food safety, fruit and grain inspection and certification, and marketing the state's agricultural products regionally and internationally.

Dan was elected four times to the Washington State House of Representatives and served from 2003 to 2009. He is a past president of both the Hop Growers of Washington and the Hop Growers of America.

Dan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Washington State University and is a graduate of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program. Dan and Carol have two adult children, Devon and Jensena.

 Jeff Canaan, Deputy Director

Jeff Canaan was appointed Deputy Director on December 1, 2010.

Jeff began his WSDA career in 2004 as an Agricultural Chemical Specialist with the Dairy Nutrient Management Program. Jeff held various positions within WSDA. In 2009, he was appointed as the lead Policy Assistant to the Director and also served as the legislative lead for the agency.

As Deputy Director, Jeff oversees WSDA's six divisions, which carry out activities related to:

• Agricultural Commodity Inspection
• Pesticide, Animal Feed and Fertilizers
• Food Safety and Consumer Services
• Protection against Plant Pests and Diseases
• Animal Health and other Livestock Services
• Agency Administration

Jeff is responsible for ensuring WSDA programs work together to enhance the position of agriculture in Washington. He is the agency's chief operating officer and also leads WSDA's initiative on Government Management Accountability and Performance (GMAP).

After receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Mathematics & Computer Science from Western Washington University, Jeff went to work for Boeing. Six years later, he earned a masters degree in Theology before teaching at a private high school in Yakima.

Agriculture has long been a calling for Jeff. Prior to working for WSDA, Jeff and his wife Kenna owned and managed a small farm in Lynden, Washington. Jeff and Kenna have two children.