Janie Simms Hipp is the founder of the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas, founder of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Tribal Relations in the Office of the Secretary, founding Executive Director of the Native American Agriculture Fund, agriculture and food lawyer, and policy expert. Hipp's work focuses on the intersection of Indian law and agriculture and food law. On June 10, 2021, she was confirmed as USDA General Counsel, the first Native American to serve in that role.