ROCKWELL CITY — Mike Sexton has resigned his seat in the Iowa House of Representatives to become leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development programs in the state.

The Republican’s House resignation was effective at 5 p.m. Friday. He will start his new job as the USDA state director for rural development on Monday.

“I never sought the position,” he said Friday evening. “They kind of sought me out.”

Sexton, of Rockwell City, said after much prayer and discussion with his family, he decided to take the job.

“I’ve lived in rural Iowa, I’ve represented rural Iowa and I love rural Iowa so if I can do something to help rural Iowa than I think it’s a good step for me,” he said.

He acknowledged that the decision was not an easy one.

“I loved being a state legislator,” he said.

In his new role, Sexton will oversee the loan and grant programs that the Department of Agriculture offers to rural communities in Iowa.

Looking back on his legislative career, he said he is proud of “representing Iowa agriculture, Iowa farmers, Iowa livestock producers and making sure that they were able to do what they do best without a lot of government regulation.”

Sexton was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2014. He had been the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee since 2022.

He was a state senator from 1999 to 2003. After leaving the Senate, he served on the Rockwell City -Lytton and South Central Calhoun school boards.

He represented House District 7, which includes Calhoun, Pocahontas and Sac counties plus western Webster County.

Gov. Kim Reynolds will schedule a special election to fill the District 7 seat.

State Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig was one of the officials congratulating Sexton on his new job.

“Mike has been a tireless champion for farmers during his time in the Iowa House and knows how critical it is to grow and strengthen our rural communities,” Naig said in a written statement. “While we’ll miss his strong voice in the legislature, I am confident he will continue to serve Iowa’s agriculture community and rural Iowans across our state well. I look forward to working with him in this new role.”