Craig Buttars

Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

Craig W Buttars, Commissioner of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, most recently served as the Cache County Executive for the past 6 years. Early in his married life he became involved in the Utah Farm Bureau and served there as the State Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chairman and later the Cache County Farm Bureau President. These experiences led to an opportunity to run for the state Legislature in 1996, at which time he was elected to represent Utah House District #3. He served in the State Legislature for 10 years, from 1997 to 2006. While in the Legislature, he chaired two House standing committees, the House Government Operations and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. He was a member of the Natural Resources and Environment Appropriations Committee for eight years.

After his legislative service, he was elected to the Cache County Council representing the North District of Cache County. Buttars remained on the County Council from 2008 to 2014. He was elected Cache County Executive in 2014 and has been serving there since 2015.

Buttars has been awarded the Legislative Distinguished Service Award by the Utah Farm Bureau as well as other awards from the Future Farmers of America, Boy Scouts of America and the Richmond Black and White Days.

Buttars is a lifelong resident of Cache County. He attended Ricks College (BYU-I) and Bridgerland Area Vocational Center (Bridgerland Technical College). He spent the majority of his career as a dairy farmer prior to becoming County Executive at which time he sold the dairy operation to his brother and nephew. He lives in Smithfield with his wife Shara. They have three children and nine grandchildren.