Ashley Smith currently serves as director of government affairs for the Torrey Advisory Group. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as an associate director of policy communications, specializing in grassroots communications efforts. Prior to that, Ashley served as deputy director of external and intergovernmental affairs for Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue where she worked with a diverse portfolio of agriculture and food industry stakeholders.

As a native of northern New York state, Ashley has deep roots in the agriculture industry. She grew up on her family’s farm where they raised Boer goats, dairy heifers, and produced maple syrup. As the daughter of two agricultural educators and FFA advisors, Ashley was active in her local 4-H and FFA chapters, eventually serving as the eastern region national FFA vice president. Smith attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where she earned a degree in agricultural communications.