AMS No. 207-12

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, September 14, 2012 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced appointments to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center Board of Directors. The Center was established to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. sheep and goat industries.

“The Sheep Center works to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep and goat products in the Unites States through infrastructure development, business development, production, resource development, and market and environmental research,” said Vilsack. “These appointees represent different facets of the sheep and goat industry, and I am confident that the industries will be well served by them.”

The reappointed board members include: Janet B. Mawhinney, Waynesburg, Pa., representing sheep and goat producers and Glen D. Fisher, Sonora, Texas, representing expertise in finance and management. Both appointees will serve 3-year terms.

The board is composed of seven voting members and two non-voting members. Voting members of the board include four members who are active producers of sheep or goats in the United States, two members that have expertise in finance and management, and one member that has expertise in lamb, wool, goat or goat product marketing. Non-voting members include Ed Avalos, USDA Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Cathy Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.

For more information, contact Kenneth R. Payne, Director, Standards, Research, and Promotion Division , Livestock, Poultry and Seed Program, AMS, USDA, Room 2628-S, STOP 0251, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0251; by calling (202) 720-1115; by faxing (202) 720-1125; or via email at Kenneth.Payne@ams.usda.gov.

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