Release No.: 016-15

Contact:

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of 151 producers and four importers to the 2015 National Pork Producers Delegate Body. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer association and importer groups and will serve a one-year term.

Appointed members representing pork producers by state are:

Alabama: Tim Gates, Wallace Norwood

Alaska: Rich Worrell, Pattie Worrell

Arizona: Marguerite A. Tan, Jose Rojas

Arkansas: Richard Gray, James Seward

California: Ken Dyer, Mike Curry

Colorado: Andrea R. Anderson, Brett Kaysen

Delaware: John B. Tigner, Jr., Henry C. Johnson, IV

Florida: Ricky N. Lyons, Tommy R. Crawford

Georgia: Dania DeVane, Mark Clemmer

Hawaii: Wayne Shimokawa, Stacy Sugi

Idaho: Logan Thornton, Robert T. Johnson

Illinois: Curt Zehr, Robert C. Frase, Todd Andrew Dail, Jason Propst, Dereke Dunkirk, Dave Conrady

Indiana: Sam D. Moffitt, Nick Maple, Kirk C. Thornburg, Emiley Gaskill, Brian Martin

Iowa: Mike Ver Steeg, Jamie Schmidt, Sarah Pakala, Al Wulfekuhle, Bryan Karwal, Dave Struthers, Art Halstead, Heather Hora, Tim Bierman, Rodney Dykstra, Gregg K. Hora, Joel Huber, Lori D. Jorgenson, Jill Kerber-Aldous, Steve Kerns, Gergory Lear, Curtis Meier, Mark Meirick, David Moody, Roger W. Nath, Gene M. Noem, Dale Reicks, Kenneth Ries, Marv Rietema, Joe Rotta, Leon C. Sheets, Scott W. Tapper, Bill Tentinger, John Edwin Vossberg, Chuck Wirtz

Kansas: Michael Springer, Alan J. Haverkamp, Kent F. Condray, Scott J. Pfortmiller

Kentucky: Bob Robinson, Benji Hudnall

Maine: Charlie Kenney, Laura Kenney

Maryland: Jennifer A. Debnam, George R. Debnam,V

Massachusetts: Lisa D. Colby

Michigan: Pat Albright, Dennis DeYoung, Andy White

Minnesota: Ruben Bode, Kevin W. Estrem, Pat Fitzsimmons, Meg Freeking, Kelly D. Graff, Brad Hennen, Brian B. Johnson, Wanda Patsche, Mark Sample, Sheila Schmid, Tim Steuber, Jackie Tlam

Mississippi: Terry Emerson, Donny Ray

Missouri: Christine Chinn, Adam Dohrman, Scott Phillips, Jim Fisher,

Montana: Joe D. Hofer, Jacob A. Waldner,

Nebraska: Darin J. Uhlir, Scott A. Spilker, Jan Miller, Aaron J. Kavan,

New Hampshire: Jeff Pedemonti, Lisa-Marie R. Gitschier

New York: James M. Luckman, Deanna Schwab

North Carolina: James L. Lamb, Channing R. Gooden, George H. Pettus, Don Butler, Mark W. Daughtry, Jim H. Lynch, Deborah M. Balance, Ben Outlaw, Brandon L. Warren, Everett H. Johnson, Bryant Worley

North Dakota: Seth Bacon, Nancy Rae Newman

Ohio: W. Kyle Brown, Rich Deaton, William Knapke, Ryan McClure

Oklahoma: Bert D. Luthi, Darren Appleton, Joseph Popplewell, Charlene Choate

Oregon: Lowell Bickle, Julie Rae Bickle

Pennsylvania: Andrew C. Reineker, Scott E. Augsburger, Oscar J. Manbeck

South Carolina: Larry B. DeHart, Mark A. McLeod

South Dakota: Ryan Storm, Dave Uttecht, Shannon G. Klumb

Tennessee: Jamey Tosh, Dolly Barnes

Texas: Michael Gruber, Corby Barrett

Utah: Jim Webb, Dwight D. Potter

Virginia: Keith D. Allen, Ryan Horsley,

Washington: Tom Cocking, Paul Klingeman, Sr.

Wisconsin: Dr. Michael A. Beisbier, Johnathan J. Wyttenbach,

Wyoming: Ana Shmidl, Shawn Shmidl

Importers appointed to the delegate body are: Ole Nielsen, Stig Kjaeroe, David Biltchik, and Magdalena Zamorska.

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985, the delegate body and the National Pork Board have implemented a national program designed to improve the pork industry’s position in the marketplace. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees operations of the delegate body. Representation on the delegate body is based on annual net assessments collected on sales of domestic hogs within individual states, with a minimum of two producers from each state. States have the option of not submitting nominees.

Delegates meet annually to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive and nominate producers and importers to the 15 member National Pork Board. The Delegate Body will be seated during the March, 2015, National Pork Industry Forum in San Antonio, Texas.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, helping to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.

#