Patrick Atagi

As President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), Atagi provides high-quality networking and resources for NIHC staff and its members, from the farm to consumer. Atagi leads an organization composed of leading international, federal, state, private industry, and government professionals throughout the United States and international hemp industry.

Under Atagi’s leadership, NIHC’s goals are to further market development, assist members in entering the industry, and educate the consumer on industrial hemp and its applications. Educating consumers is of paramount importance for NIHC.

Atagi has served in executive positions in both the public and private sector. He previously served the public as both the Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and as the Confidential Assistant to the Under Secretary at the United States Department of Agriculture under President George W. Bush. In the private sector, Atagi previously worked for the US Apple Association, UnitedFresh, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), been the Secretariat for the World Chlorine Council, and the American Chemistry Council.

He remains President and CEO of his family’s farming operation DA Farms in Nyssa, Oregon.

Atagi is a strong business development professional and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and University of Maryland MBA program.