Nominee Report U.S. Office of Government Ethics; 5 C.F.R. part 2634 Form Approved: OMB No. (3209-0001) (January 2018) Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) Filer's Information Barbic, Kenneth S. Assistant Secretary (Congressional Relations), Department of Agriculture Other Federal Government Positions Held During the Preceding 12 Months: None Names of Congressional Committees Considering Nomination: ● Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Electronic Signature - I certify that the statements I have made in this form are true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. /s/ Barbic, Kenneth S. [electronically signed on 10/03/2017 by Barbic, Kenneth S. in Integrity.gov] Agency Ethics Official's Opinion - On the basis of information contained in this report, I conclude that the filer is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations (subject to any comments below). /s/ Tobin, Andrew, Certifying Official [electronically signed on 01/19/2018 by Tobin, Andrew in Integrity.gov] Other review conducted by U.S. Office of Government Ethics Certification Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 1 /s/ Apol, David, Certifying Official [electronically signed on 01/25/2018 by Apol, David in Integrity.gov] Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 2 1. Filer's Positions Held Outside United States Government # ORGANIZATION NAME 1 Western Growers Association See Endnote CITY, STATE ORGANIZATION TYPE POSITION HELD FROM TO Irvine, California Non-Profit Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs 7/2009 Present VALUE INCOME TYPE INCOME AMOUNT Salary $246,962 2. Filer's Employment Assets & Income and Retirement Accounts # DESCRIPTION EIF 1 Western Growers Association N/A 2 Western Growers Association, 401(k) Plan No 2.1 Black Rock Health Sciences Opportunities Fund (A) Yes $15,001 $50,000 $201 - $1,000 2.2 Fidelity Advisor Small Cap Fund Yes $15,001 $50,000 $201 - $1,000 2.3 Ivy Science and Technology Fund (A) Yes $15,001 $50,000 $201 - $1,000 2.4 Raub Brock Dividend Growth Portfolio Yes $15,001 $50,000 $201 - $1,000 2.5 SPDR S&P 500 Growth Yes $15,001 $50,000 $201 - $1,000 3 Anticipated 401(k) Contribution from Western Growers Association N/A $15,001 $50,000 None (or less than $201) Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 3 3. Filer's Employment Agreements and Arrangements # EMPLOYER OR PARTY CITY, STATE STATUS AND TERMS DATE 1 Western Growers Association Irvine, California I will continue to participate in this defined contribution plan. The employer will make a final lump sum employer contribution in Feb/March of subsequent calendar year. The amount of the annual contribution will be fixed at 10% of my salary for the period that I work in 2017. The employer matching and contribution will be made into the account in Feb/March 2018. 7/2009 4. Filer's Sources of Compensation Exceeding $5,000 in a Year # SOURCE NAME CITY, STATE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES 1 Western Growers Association Washington, District of Columbia Serve as Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, performing an entire suite of government affair related duties for a trade association including: policy development, various levels of advocacy, association member relations, association member recruitment, communications, coalition management and participation. 5. Spouse's Employment Assets & Income and Retirement Accounts # DESCRIPTION EIF 1 Capitol Hill Baptist Church N/A VALUE INCOME TYPE INCOME AMOUNT salary 6. Other Assets and Income Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 4 # DESCRIPTION EIF VALUE INCOME TYPE INCOME AMOUNT 1 U.S. Savings Bonds N/A $1,001 - $15,000 None (or less than $201) 2 U.S. credit union account (cash) N/A $15,001 $50,000 None (or less than $201) 3 Residential real estate (Washington, DC) N/A $500,001 $1,000,000 Rent or Royalties $2,501 - $5,000 7. Transactions (N/A) - Not required for this type of report 8. Liabilities # CREDITOR NAME TYPE AMOUNT YEAR INCURRED RATE TERM 1 U.S. Bank Home Mortgage Mortgage on Personal Residence $250,001 $500,000 2013 3.5 30 years 2 Congressional Federal Credit Union Home Equity Line of Credit $15,001 $50,000 2013 Prime minus .25 10 years See Endnote 9. Gifts and Travel Reimbursements (N/A) - Not required for this type of report Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 5 Endnotes PART # ENDNOTE 1. 1 While the association is headquartered in Irvine, CA, I have only worked out of their Washington, DC office. 8. 2 This liability has been paid off, but had a balance at a preceding time during the reporting period. Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 6 Summary of Contents 1. Filer's Positions Held Outside United States Government Part 1 discloses positions that the filer held at any time during the reporting period (excluding positions with the United States Government). Positions are reportable even if the filer did not receive compensation. This section does not include the following: (1) positions with religious, social, fraternal, or political organizations; (2) positions solely of an honorary nature; (3) positions held as part of the filer's official duties with the United States Government; (4) mere membership in an organization; and (5) passive investment interests as a limited partner or non-managing member of a limited liability company. 2. Filer's Employment Assets & Income and Retirement Accounts Part 2 discloses the following: ● ● Sources of earned and other non-investment income of the filer totaling more than $200 during the reporting period (e.g., salary, fees, partnership share, honoraria, scholarships, and prizes) Assets related to the filer's business, employment, or other income-generating activities that (1) ended the reporting period with a value greater than $1,000 or (2) produced more than $200 in income during the reporting period (e.g., equity in business or partnership, stock options, retirement plans/accounts and their underlying holdings as appropriate, deferred compensation, and intellectual property, such as book deals and patents) This section does not include assets or income from United States Government employment or assets that were acquired separately from the filer's business, employment, or other income-generating activities (e.g., assets purchased through a brokerage account). Note: The type of income is not required if the amount of income is $0 - $200 or if the asset qualifies as an excepted investment fund (EIF). 3. Filer's Employment Agreements and Arrangements Part 3 discloses agreements or arrangements that the filer had during the reporting period with an employer or former employer (except the United States Government), such as the following: ● ● ● ● ● Future employment Leave of absence Continuing payments from an employer, including severance and payments not yet received for previous work (excluding ordinary salary from a current employer) Continuing participation in an employee welfare, retirement, or other benefit plan, such as pensions or a deferred compensation plan Retention or disposition of employer-awarded equity, sharing in profits or carried interests (e.g., vested and unvested stock options, restricted stock, future share of a company's profits, etc.) Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 7 4. Filer's Sources of Compensation Exceeding $5,000 in a Year Part 4 discloses sources (except the United States Government) that paid more than $5,000 in a calendar year for the filer's services during any year of the reporting period. The filer discloses payments both from employers and from any clients to whom the filer personally provided services. The filer discloses a source even if the source made its payment to the filer's employer and not to the filer. The filer does not disclose a client's payment to the filer's employer if the filer did not provide the services for which the client is paying. 5. Spouse's Employment Assets & Income and Retirement Accounts Part 5 discloses the following: ● ● ● Sources of earned income (excluding honoraria) for the filer's spouse totaling more than $1,000 during the reporting period (e.g., salary, consulting fees, and partnership share) Sources of honoraria for the filer's spouse greater than $200 during the reporting period Assets related to the filer's spouse's employment, business activities, other income-generating activities that (1) ended the reporting period with a value greater than $1,000 or (2) produced more than $200 in income during the reporting period (e.g., equity in business or partnership, stock options, retirement plans/accounts and their underlying holdings as appropriate, deferred compensation, and intellectual property, such as book deals and patents) This section does not include assets or income from United States Government employment or assets that were acquired separately from the filer's spouse's business, employment, or other income-generating activities (e.g., assets purchased through a brokerage account). Note: The type of income is not required if the amount of income is $0 - $200 or if the asset qualifies as an excepted investment fund (EIF). Amounts of income are not required for a spouse's earned income (excluding honoraria). 6. Other Assets and Income Part 6 discloses each asset, not already reported, that (1) ended the reporting period with a value greater than $1,000 or (2) produced more than $200 in investment income during the reporting period. For purposes of the value and income thresholds, the filer aggregates the filer's interests with those of the filer's spouse and dependent children. This section does not include the following types of assets: (1) a personal residence (unless it was rented out during the reporting period); (2) income or retirement benefits associated with United States Government employment (e.g., Thrift Savings Plan); and (3) cash accounts (e.g., checking, savings, money market accounts) at a single financial institution with a value of $5,000 or less (unless more than $200 of income was produced). Additional exceptions apply. Note: The type of income is not required if the amount of income is $0 - $200 or if the asset qualifies as an excepted investment fund (EIF). 7. Transactions Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 8 Part 7 discloses purchases, sales, or exchanges of real property or securities in excess of $1,000 made on behalf of the filer, the filer's spouse or dependent child during reporting period. This section does not include transactions that concern the following: (1) a personal residence, unless rented out; (2) cash accounts (e.g., checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts) and money market mutual funds; (3) Treasury bills, bonds, and notes; and (4) holdings within a federal Thrift Savings Plan account. Additional exceptions apply. 8. Liabilities Part 8 discloses liabilities over $10,000 that the filer, the filer's spouse or dependent child owed at any time during the reporting period. This section does not include the following types of liabilities: (1) mortgages on a personal residence, unless rented out (limitations apply for PAS filers); (2) loans secured by a personal motor vehicle, household furniture, or appliances, unless the loan exceeds the item's purchase price; and (3) revolving charge accounts, such as credit card balances, if the outstanding liability did not exceed $10,000 at the end of the reporting period. Additional exceptions apply. 9. Gifts and Travel Reimbursements This section discloses: ● ● Gifts totaling more than $390 that the filer, the filer's spouse, and dependent children received from any one source during the reporting period. Travel reimbursements totaling more than $390 that the filer, the filer's spouse, and dependent children received from any one source during the reporting period. For purposes of this section, the filer need not aggregate any gift or travel reimbursement with a value of $156 or less. Regardless of the value, this section does not include the following items: (1) anything received from relatives; (2) anything received from the United States Government or from the District of Columbia, state, or local governments; (3) bequests and other forms of inheritance; (4) gifts and travel reimbursements given to the filer's agency in connection with the filer's official travel; (5) gifts of hospitality (food, lodging, entertainment) at the donor's residence or personal premises; and (6) anything received by the filer's spouse or dependent children totally independent of their relationship to the filer. Additional exceptions apply. Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 9 Privacy Act Statement Title I of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended (the Act), 5 U.S.C. app. § 101 et seq., as amended by the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-105) (STOCK Act), and 5 C.F.R. Part 2634 of the U. S. Office of Government Ethics regulations require the reporting of this information. The primary use of the information on this report is for review by Government officials to determine compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations. This report may also be disclosed upon request to any requesting person in accordance with sections 105 and 402(b)(1) of the Act or as otherwise authorized by law. You may inspect applications for public access of your own form upon request. Additional disclosures of the information on this report may be made: (1) to any requesting person, subject to the limitation contained in section 208(d)(1) of title 18, any determination granting an exemption pursuant to sections 208(b)(1) and 208(b)(3) of title 18; (2) to a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency if the disclosing agency becomes aware of violations or potential violations of law or regulation; (3) to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding when the Government is a party or in order to comply with a judge-issued subpoena; (4) to a source when necessary to obtain information relevant to a conflict of interest investigation or determination; (5) to the National Archives and Records Administration or the General Services Administration in records management inspections; (6) to the Office of Management and Budget during legislative coordination on private relief legislation; (7) to the Department of Justice or in certain legal proceedings when the disclosing agency, an employee of the disclosing agency, or the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in the litigation and the use of such records is deemed relevant and necessary to the litigation; (8) to reviewing officials in a new office, department or agency when an employee transfers or is detailed from one covered position to another; (9) to a Member of Congress or a congressional office in response to an inquiry made on behalf of an individual who is the subject of the record; (10) to contractors and other non-Government employees working on a contract, service or assignment for the Federal Government when necessary to accomplish a function related to an OGE Government-wide system of records; and (11) on the OGE Website and to any person, department or agency, any written ethics agreement filed with OGE by an individual nominated by the President to a position requiring Senate confirmation. See also the OGE/GOVT-1 executive branch-wide Privacy Act system of records. Public Burden Information This collection of information is estimated to take an average of three hours per response, including time for reviewing the instructions, gathering the data needed, and completing the form. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Program Counsel, U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005-3917. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, as amended, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and no person is required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number (that number, 3209-0001, is displayed here and at the top of the first page of this OGE Form 278e). Barbic, Kenneth S. - Page 10