Release No.: 017-15

Contact:

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed nine members and nine alternates to the American Egg Board for the 2015-2016 term. All appointees will serve 2-year terms.

Appointed Egg Board members and alternates, by region, are:

North Atlantic states – Christopher Esbenshade, Litz, Pa., member; Christopher Pierce, Annville, Pa., member; Jesse Laflamme, Monroe, N.H., alternate; John Puglisi, Howell, N.J., alternate.

South Atlantic states – Andrew Reichman, Andrews, N.C., member; Steven S. Horton, Flowery Branch, Ga., alternate.

East North Central states – Stephen Herbruck, Grand Rapids, Mich., member; Thomas Hertzfeld, II, Rapids, Ohio, member; Lisa Timmerman, Fort Recovery, Ohio, alternate; Ronald Gross, St. Henry, Ohio, alternate.

West North Central states – Robert Krouse, North Manchester, Ind., member; Ben Thompson, Pearl City, Ill., member; Melinda Truex, Warsaw, Ind., alternate; Marcus Rust, Remington, Ind., alternate.

South Central states – Blair Van Zetten, Oskaloosa, Iowa, member; Bruce Dooyema, Sioux Center, Iowa, alternate.

Western states – Roy Patterson, Lewisville, Texas, member; David Elbel, College Station, Texas, alternate.

Appointed to fill vacancies in the South Central states for the 2014-2015 term are Steven George, Grinnell, Iowa, member; and William Claybaugh, Carroll, Neb., alternate.

Composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing six regions, the board administers an egg research and promotion program authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. Terms on the board are staggered so that half of the membership is appointed each year in order to provide continuity in policy. The Secretary of Agriculture selects appointees from egg producers nominated by organizations representing the egg industry.

Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back 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.

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