USDA Appoints Members to National Pork Producers Delegate Body
USDA recently announced the appointment of 154 producers and five importers to the 2020 National Pork Producers Delegate Body.
For delegate Jason Propst, a pig farmer from Toledo, Ill., the opportunity to serve the pork industry is always an honor. He is one of six producers from Illinois who will be attending the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City on March 4-6.
“Important information is shared at the Pork Forum – not only does it allow me to be more aware of what’s happening in the industry, but I can also bring back this information to help producers in our state,” he says.
Delegates meet to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive, and nominate producers and importers to the Pork Board.
He says serving as a delegate also allows him to make sure his state’s issues are being discussed while gaining knowledge of what’s happening in other states that could become issues for Illinois down the road.
“As delegates, we evaluate opportunities and threats to the U.S. pork industry and how we can serve producers’ best interests and represent their voices and opinions,” Propst says.
Hot Topics at National Pork Industry Forum
It’s no surprise that trade will come into play during discussions in Kansas City. With 26% of U.S. hogs being exported, it’s a discussion that Propst says is increasingly critical to the industry.
“The National Pork Board is channeling more resources to exploring export opportunities,” Propst says. “Once doors are opened to us in other countries, we need to have boots on the ground to move that product.”
He’s also looking forward to learning more about the reorganization of the Pork Checkoff program.
“The Pork Checkoff is moving toward more tasks and projects versus big programs of work so producers can see a definite beginning and end,” Propst says. “It allows our industry to be more nimble to react in situations that present themselves. How can we get resources and expertise directed in right areas more quickly?”
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. Members appointed to serve one-year terms are:
• Alabama: Daniel Tubbs, Oakman; Wesley Gates, Pickensville
• Alaska: Rich C. Worrell, Wasilla; Pattie R. Worrell, Wasilla
• Arkansas: Clayton R. Bailey, Mountainburg; Charles Metz, London
• Arizona: Shannon Schulz, Tonopah; Alfredo Sotomayor, Lakeside
• California: Aaron Prinz, Woodland; Chance Reeder, Ripon
• Colorado: Andrea Anderson, Wray; Ian Mackay, Holyoke
• Connecticut: Hazel Secchiaroli, Waterford; Jonathan G. Secchiaroli, Waterford
• Delaware: John B. Tigner Jr., Hartly; Henry Clay Johnson IV, Selbyville
• Florida: Tommy Crawford, Lake Butler; Kyle M. Mendes, Gainesville
• Georgia: Dania DeVane, Cuthbert; Mark Clemmer, Broxton
• Hawaii: Kaylen M. Souza, Waianae; Ronald B. McKeehan Sr., Honokaa
• Idaho: Brittney Murphy, Burley; Logan Thornton, Kuna
• Illinois: Jason Propst, Toledo; Thomas Titus, Elkhart; Pamela S. Janssen, Minonk; Dale Weitekamp, Raymond; Alan Kollmann, Altamont; Mike Woltmann, Kingston.
• Indiana: Jeremy Bartlett, Brookston; Nathan Hedden, Battle Ground; Joe Mann, Cloverdale; Nick Maple, Amboy; Nicholas E. Tharp, Coatesville; Bill Tempel, Gentryville
• Iowa: Joe Rotta, Merrill; Kevin L. Lewis, Goldfield; Edward E. Juhl, Hudson; Trish Cook, Winthrop; Aaron Juergens, Carroll; Ryan Pudenz, Ames; Joel Van Gilst, Oskaloosa; Mike Paustian, Walcott; Tim Bierman, Larrabee; Howard T. Hill, Cambridge; Jim Hogan, Monticello; Gregg K. Hora, Fort Dodge; Steven Kerns, Clearfield; Greg Lear, Spencer; Rod Leman, Fort Dodge; Dennis Liljedahl, Essex; Curtis Meier, Clarinda; Mark Meirick, Protivin; Dwight Mogler, Alvord; David Moody, Nevada; Dale Gerard Reicks, New Hampton; Marv Rietema, Sioux Center; Jamie Schmidt, Garner; Timothy J. Schmidt, Hawarden; Leon C. Sheets, Ionia; Dave Struthers, Collins; Trent Thiele, Elma; Marv Van Den Top, Boyden; Al Wulfekuhle, Quasqueton; Mike Ver Steeg, Inwood
• Kansas: David Hartter, Sabetha; Roy J. Henry, Longford; Kenton McKee, Goff; Michael Springer, Neodesha
• Kentucky: Eric Heard, Auburn; Benji Hudnall, Bowling Green
• Maine: Michael Hemond, Minot; Brittany Hemond, Minot
• Maryland: Andy J. Bauer, Dayton; Michael Stoner, Taneytown
• Michigan: Pat Albright, Coldwater; Edward L. Reed, Three Rivers; Ryan Hunter, Vicksburg
• Minnesota: Pat FitzSimmons, Dassel; Reuben Bode, Courtland; Bradley L. Hennen, Ghent; JoDee Lynn Haala, New Ulm; Chris Compart; Nicollet; Wanda Patsche, Welcome; Brian Schwartz, Sleepy Eye; Myrna Jean Welter, Stewartville; Brian Johnson, Walnut Grove; Dan Helvig, Truman; Galen Johnson, Dodge Center; Meg E. Freking, Alpha; Greg Boerboom, Marshall
• Mississippi: Sean Boe, Moselle; Terry Emerson, West Point
• Missouri: Adam Dohrman, Sweet Springs; Francis Forst, Lamar; Donald L. Laut, Jr., Fredericktown; Dean Rehmeier, Augusta
• Montana: Jacob A. Waldner, Havre; Peter J. Wipf, Carter
• Nebraska: John Csukker, Shelby; Darin Uhlir, Saint Paul; Connor J. Livingston, Fairbury; Aaron Reichmuth, Humphrey; Michael R. Luckey, Columbus
• Nevada: Katherine Combs, Las Vegas; Sarah Stallard, Las Vegas
• New Hampshire: Alicia Pedemonti, Hopkinton
• New Jersey: Kirk Stephens, Sussex
• New York: Brian E. Bontrager, Darien Center; James Luckman, Gasport
• North Carolina: Don Butler, Clinton; James L. Lamb, Clinton; Everett H. Johnson, Siloam; Jay Archer, Tarboro; Gaye D. Crowther, Tabor City; Michael Eugene Inman, Tar Heel; Brian J. Kennedy, Pink Hill; Jim H. Lynch, La Grange; Jared Porter, Concord; M. Todd See, Raleigh
• North Dakota: James P. Clay, Bisbee; Kenneth Reistad, Larimore
• Ohio: Josh Berry, Pleasantville; Kenneth M. Garee, Sunbury; Janel Hord, Bucyrus; Nick Seger, Sidney
• Oklahoma: Angie Johnson, Holdenville; Tina Falcon, Tecumseh; Joe Popplewell, Stillwater.
• Oregon: Ray J. Blake, Newberg; Jennifer L. Blake, Newberg
• Pennsylvania: Ben Barcovtch, Lock Haven; Jeremy A. Ranck, Christiana; David A. Reinecker, York Springs
• South Carolina: Gary Curtis Lee, Jr., Alcolu; Mark A. McLeod, Pinewood
• South Dakota: Ferlyn Hofer, Canistota; Paul Wipf, Frankfort; Shane Odegaard, Lake Preston
• Tennessee: James Mathis, Duck River; Dolly Jane Barnes, Selmer
• Texas: Peter C. Baumert, Dalhart; Douglas Schaefer, Garden City
• Utah: Rosa Cazares, Milford; Ryan Goff, Cedar City
• Virginia: Jessica Cunningham, Elberon; R.O. Britt, Williamsburg
• Washington: Paul R. Knittel, Davenport, Wash.; Jill M. Knittel, Davenport, Wash.
• Wisconsin: Brian Klubertanz, Waterloo; Nathan P. Brickl, Prairie du Sac
• Wyoming: Damein Christensen, Riverton; Jim Pannell, Hulett
• Importers: Frank Jensen, Hoboken, N.J; Ole Nielsen, Madison, N.J.; Joseph A. Arthur Khayat, Secaucus, N.J.; Rich Maebert, South Orange, N.J.; Petruce, Freeland, Pa.
The National Pork Board and the Delegate Body were established under the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985. By law, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) oversees operations of the Pork Board and the Delegate Body.
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