Penn State Alumna Helps Shape The Future Of Pennsylvania Agriculture

By Mikayla Bowen

When Katie McLaughlin sits at her desk in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO), she brings with her a lifelong connection to agriculture and lessons shaped by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Established in 2023, OTO is dedicated to making Pennsylvania a more competitive place to do business. In her role as agriculture coordinator, McLaughlin supports farms and businesses needing help with permitting state resources and partners with the Department of Agriculture for cross-agency collaboration.

“We’re fortunate to have a governor who prioritizes agriculture; it is a key part of Pennsylvania’s Economic Development Strategy,” she said. “I work on agriculture projects, whether that’s working with businesses that need permitting assistance or helping them navigate state resources. I also provide agency support, working closely with our colleagues at the Department of Agriculture. OTO is really an added layer of capacity for cross-agency collaboration and business support.”

Growing up in Mifflintown, McLaughlin said her family’s farm sparked her passion for the industry, and her dad’s Penn State master’s degree made the University feel like home. She showed livestock in 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America), building the roots that led her to the College of Agricultural Sciences, where she earned an agricultural sciences degree with a minor in international agriculture (INTAG).