USDA appoints two from Midwest to Popcorn Board

WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of two members to serve three-year terms on the Popcorn Board. Newly appointed are Dan J. Sleaford of Manito, Ill., and Rachel C. Foley of Delphi, Ind.

The Popcorn Board is composed of five popcorn processors. The Popcorn Promotion, Research and Consumer Information program, operating as the Popcorn Board, helps maintain and expand existing markets and develop new markets for popcorn and popcorn products.

A roster of members is available on the Popcorn Board page at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion/popcorn online. More information is also available on the Popcorn Board’s webpage at www.popcorn.org

New IBCA-IBC board of directors set to begin work for 2018

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc. (IBCA) held elections during recent Area Beef Meetings to choose three area directors who sit on the IBCA-IBC (Indiana Beef Council) board of directors.

Beef producers in Area 3 elected Mick Douglas of Owensville, producers in Area 9 reelected David Duncan of Wingate and those in Area 10 elected Bob Dragani of Plymouth.

During the annual business meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Jan. 27, the IBCA membership elected officers for 2018-19. The new officers are President Joe Horstman of West Lafayette; President-elect Dr. Bruce Lamb of Milford; Vice President Neal Smith from Pendleton; and Treasurer Andrew Stewart of Greensburg.

Also serving on the Executive Committee with the officers are Promotions Committee Chair Dr. Jennie Hodgen, Membership Chair Neil Hollingsworth and Immediate Past President Tim Schwab. The board is made up of 10 area directors as well as representatives from dairy, veal and allied industries.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT are Dr. Bruce Lamb, Tim Schwab, Joe Horstman, Neil Hollingsworth, Neal Smith and Andrew Stewart. Dr. Jennie Hodgen is not pictured.

(Photo provided)

USDA makes Christmas Tree Promotion Board appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of five producers and one importer to serve on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms ending on Dec. 31, 2020.

Newly appointed producer members are Jim Corliss of Newburgh, Maine, and Roger W. Beyer of Molalla, Ore. Reappointed producer members are Paul F. Battaglia of San Martin, Calif., Della Jean Deal of Laurel Springs, N.C., and Beth Walterscheidt of Elgin, Texas. The importer member reappointed is Christopher Maciborski of Manton, Mich.

The 12-member board has 11 producers representing production in the eastern, central and western regions of the United States, and an importer member.

USDA announces appointments to two sheep boards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently announced the appointment of five members to serve on the American Lamb Board.

Those tapped to serve three-year terms are Sally J. Scholle, producer, Littlestown, Pa.; David Quam, producer, San Angelo, Texas; Peter J. Camino, feeder, Buffalo, Wyo.; Elizabeth A.W. Dressler, first handler, Parker, Colo.; and Greg Deakin, seedstock producer, Cuba, Ill.

The board is composed of 13 members, including six U.S. producers, three feeders, three first handlers and one seedstock producer.

Perdue also appointed three members to serve on the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center board of directors. The appointed producers and marketing expert who will serve three-year terms are Jeremy Geske, producer, New Prague, Minn.; Brenda J. Reau, producer, Petersburg, Mich.; and Steve W. Lewis, expert in marketing, Artesia, N.M.

The board is composed of seven voting and two non-voting members. Voting members include four who are active producers of sheep in the United States, two who have expertise in finance and management and one who has expertise in lamb, wool or lamb product marketing.