June 30 deadline to run for Indiana Corn Checkoff Board

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Corn growers interested in directing Indiana corn checkoff investments have until June 30 to petition to run for the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) board of directors election.

ICMC manages state corn checkoff investments with the goal of supporting and growing the state’s corn industry. Five seats on ICMC’s board of directors are up for reelection or open in 2018.

To run for an ICMC director seat, Indiana corn farmers must be at least 18 years old, a registered Indiana voter and a resident in the appropriate district. All farmers who submit a valid petition by June 30 will be listed as a candidate on the election ballot. Voting takes place at Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service county offices in August.

This year, ICMC has seats either open or up for reelection in Districts 2, 5 and 8. In addition, two At-Large seats are open. Farmers interested in running should submit a petition to the ICMC office before June 30. They can download petition forms at www.incorn.org/elections or by calling Chris Weldon at the ICMC office at 800-735-0195. Forms are also available at all county extension offices.

Newly elected directors will begin a three-year term Oct. 1. ICMC directors can serve three consecutive full terms or a total of nine consecutive years. For more information, visit www.incorn.org

Appell inducted into National Pork Hall of Fame

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jill Appell, a pork producer from Altona, Ill., was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Pork Producers Council for her leadership of and dedication to the U.S. pork industry, at NPPC's annual business meeting, the National Pork Industry Forum.

Appell, who grew up near Chicago, early on developed an interest in agriculture. Her career in the pork industry began when she joined the Knox County Pork Producers Assoc., which eventually led to her role as president of the Illinois Pork Producers Assoc.

Shortly after NPPC was formally separated from the National Pork Board, she joined the NPPC board and was appointed vice president of the organization in 2005. She served as president from March 2007-March 2008. Prior to becoming president of NPPC, Appell was appointed as director of Rural Development for Illinois.

She has continued her service to the pork industry through her role as vice chair on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiation for the U.S. Trade Representative, and has served on the Illinois Attorney General's Advisory Committee and the Illinois Governor's Advisory Committee. Appell and her husband Paul originally had a farrow-to-finish operation, then transitioned to a weaner operation. While they no longer have pigs, they still raise 1,100 acres of corn and soybeans.

USDA announces National Pork Board director appointments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of six members to serve on the National Pork Board (NPB). Five appointees will serve three-year terms and one will serve the remaining two-year portion of a vacant position.

The appointed members are: Gary Asay, Oscon, Ill.; Rich Deaton, New Madison, Ohio; Pat FitzSimmons, Dassel, Minn.; David Newman, Myrtle, Mo.; Bill Tentinger, Le Mars, Iowa; and Todd Erickson, Northwood, N.D. (two-year term).

The NPB is composed of 15 producers who are nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body, which is made up of 160 producer and importer members.