Dr. Mike Strain was elected to serve as commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2007 and sworn into office in January 2008. Born and raised on a cattle farm in Covington, Dr. Strain was very active in the Future Farmers Association and 4-H. He earned a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from Louisiana State University. In 1999, Strain was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 74 and re-elected in 2003. As a House member, he chaired the Legislative Rural Caucus and served on the Agriculture Committee.