Kemper on national committee<br>

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Alan Kemper of Lafayette, Ind., has been appointed by President Bush to serve on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative.<br>
The APAC works with and makes recommendations to the secretary and to the representative on a wide range of agricultural trade issues. The advisory committee represents a balance between varied interests and all of its members have demonstrated leadership qualities.<br>
Kemper runs a farming operation of corn, soybeans and cattle with his son, Brian, in Tippecanoe County. He is currently serving his second term as a vice president of the American Soybean Assoc. and is part of the group’s nine-member executive committee chosen to guide the organization in 2007-08.<br>
Kemper, who is also a director on the Indiana Soybean Alliance, has served as president of the National Corn Growers Assoc., was chairman of the U.S. Ag Team at the GATT/WTO conferences in Brussels and Geneva and was a member of former President Clinton’s Development Task Force on Sustainable Agriculture.<br>
Greiner is science-tech director<br>

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Pork Producers Council has named Dr. Jennifer Greiner director of science and technology in its Washington, D.C., office.<br>
“Jen will be a great addition to our policy team,” said Kirk Ferrell, NPPC’s vice president for public policy. “She brings a mix of practical knowledge about veterinary science and public policy related to animal agriculture.”<br>
Most recently, Greiner was corporate affairs associate with Elanco Animal Health, working in the areas of government relations and public affairs. As director of cattle health and ID programs for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, she was involved with regulatory health programs related to animal diseases, and she coordinated the state’s implementation of a premises ID program with the National Animal Identification System.<br>
For two years, Greiner was a practicing veterinarian, working in a swine-exclusive practice, where she conducted herd health analysis and performed diagnostics, and in a small animal practice, where she did routine health exams and diagnostics.<br>
An Iowa native, who grew up on a livestock and grain farm, Greiner received a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from Iowa State University.<br>
Blue joins Kurtz Auction & Realty<br>
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Kurtz Auction & Realty Co., one of the region’s leading real estate auction firms, has announced the addition of Jason Blue as its director of business development in southern Indiana.<br>
Blue will be based in Evansville and will focus on developing high-leverage professional relationships, as well as serving sellers of high-value properties. With more than 17 years of experience in the tri-state area, he has operational and financial expertise in business services, manufacturing and commercial real estate.
Prior to joining Kurtz, Blue was a key business developer for HR Solutions, Inc. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Marketing.<br>
Gelfius wins Reichart Award<br>
ELWOOD, Ind. — Red Gold, Inc. of Elwood presented Bill Gelfius of Hartsville, Ind., a plaque and named him winner of the E.A. Reichart Quality Achievement Award to honor him as Tomato Grower of the Year.<br>
Gelfius Farms, Inc. was chosen from a select group of 11 master growers, picked from more than 53 growers for Red Gold. Gelfius also received the sixth Red Gold Master Grower award.<br>
Gelfius has been growing tomatoes for Red Gold for more than 14 years. This year’s production from his farms would account for more than 28 million cans of Red Gold whole, diced, stewed and specialty tomato products.<br>
The award was presented during the Red Gold 17th Annual Growers Banquet in Indianapolis, held in conjunction with the Indiana Raw Products Conference sponsored by Purdue University.<br>
NCGA recruiters win truck leases<br>

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — In an effort to promote membership, the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) recently held a drawing and awarded a year’s use of an E85 Flex-Fuel 2008 Chevrolet Silverado to three qualified recruiters and one state NCGA affiliate.<br>
Individual winners were Tom Durand of Michigan, Terry Hilgedick of Missouri and David Cramer of Ohio. The winning state association was the South Dakota Corn Growers Assoc.<br>
The winners were selected in a random drawing involving qualified recruiters who met certain targets based on the size of their state. The state drawing was open to affiliates who met a certain percentage increase in membership at the close of the 2007 membership year, compared to the previous three-year average.
This program was sponsored by Syngenta Agrisure.<br>