AMS No. 009-09

Billy Cox (202)720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

Hakim Fobia (202)690-0488

hakim.fobia@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2009 -- USDA announced today the appointment of 153 pork producers and 8 importers to the 2009 National Pork Producers Delegate Body. All appointees will serve a one-year term. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer association and importer groups. These appointments were made by former Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.

Appointed members representing pork producers by state are:

Alabama: Luther Bishop, Mark G. Pennington

Alaska: Patricia R. Worrell, Richard C. Worrell

Arizona: Lawrence W. Beck, Michael D. Terrill

Arkansas: Jack A. Gourley, James S. Seward

California: Rachelle A. Bailey, Brady R. Otto

Colorado: Brett B. Rutledge, Thomas H. Wernsman

Connecticut: Charles E. Rowland

Delaware: Henry C. Johnson, IV, John B. Tigner, Jr.

Florida: Ken Clyatt, Ricky Lyons

Georgia: Glenn Derochers, Dania S. DeVane

Hawaii: Wayne I. Shimokawa, Evelyn A. Telles

Idaho: Jerry A. Summerall, Bradley K. Thornton

Illinois: Phillip J. Borgic, David L. Conrady, David D. Dedert, Michael E. Haag, Brent E. Scholl, Phillip N. Shaner, Brian D. Sturtevant

Indiana: Randy Curless, Jeffrey W. Harker, Nathan D. Hedden, Michael S. Lewis, Samuel D. Moffitt

Iowa: Susan G. Carlson, Craig E. Christensen, Rodney G. Dykstra, Gene G. Gourley, Howard T. Hill, Chad R. Keppy, Steven L. Kerns, Gregory R. Lear, Heather S. Lindberg-Hora, Curtis D. Meier, David E. Moody, Oliver E. Moody, Dale G. Reicks, Marvin J. Rietema, Jamie M. Schmidt, Max S. Schmidt, Norman R. Schmitt, Gregory J. Schroeder, Leon C. Sheets, Derrick D. Sleezer, Scott W. Tapper, Bill J. Tentinger, Donald H. Toale, Eugene D. VerSteeg, John E. Vossberg, John P. Weber, Todd A. Wiley

Kansas: Kent F. Condray, Alan J. Haverkamp, Peter K. Sherlock, Ronald F. Suther

Kentucky: Maurice W. Heard, John S. Medley, Jr.

Louisiana: Robert L. Fletcher, Jr., Harvey H. Patton, III

Maine: Barrett A. Parks, Deena A. Parks

Maryland: Thomas G. Hartsock, Charles T. Linthicum, Jr.

Massachusetts: Lisa D. Colby

Michigan: David B. Cheney, Patrick M. Hunter, Edward L. Reed

Minnesota: Rachel F. Anthony, Samuel K. Baidoo, Lynn J. Becker, William L. Crawford, Kelly D. Graff, Curtis J. Johnson, Craig A. Mensink, Mary Lynn Peichel, Karen J. Richter, Patrick W. Thome, Timothy A. Waibel, Douglas K. Wenner

Mississippi: Terry W. Emerson, Charles R. Power

Missouri: Adam P. Dohman, James E. Fisher, Scott G. Hays, William D. Kessler

Montana: Donald L. Herzog, John W. Rauser

Nebraska: David L. Harrington, Troy D. McCain, Shane C. Meyer, Terry D. O'Neel, Leon D. Seier

Nevada: Becky A. Louk, David S. Louk

New Hampshire: Doreen R. Gitschier, Jennifer L. Lamper

New Mexico: Brent M. Van Dyke

New York: Crystal A. Hartman, Sandra L. Hartman

North Carolina: Curtis G. Barwick, Donald Butler, Timothy H. Craig, Henry E. Faison, Robert C. Hunt, Zack McCullen, III, L. Benjamin Outlaw, III, George H. Pettus, Gregory A. Sconyers, M. Todd See, E. Ray Summerlin, Jr.

North Dakota: Todd E. Erickson, James R. Gibbens

Ohio: Jim L. Albaugh, Michael J. Barhorst, Alan J. Evers, James R. Heimerl

Oklahoma: Max W. Boothe, Karen D. Brewer, Ronald L. Dill, Joe C. Popplewell

Oregon: Bonnie L. Wuergler, Steven R. Wuergler

Pennsylvania: Jeffrey D. Arner, Bryan C. Cooper, Kurtis P. Good

South Carolina: Larry B. DeHart, John R. Harris

South Dakota: Bradley S. Greenway, David J. Uttecht, Clarence J. Wurtz

Tennessee: Dennis A. Holder, Jamey C. Tosh

Texas: Florentino Lopez, Stanley M. Young

Utah: Zachary R. Eyring, James W. Webb

Virginia: Rex W. Alphin, Bobby H. Bryan

Washington: Emily L. Carner, Kelly N. Soncarty

Wisconsin: Alicia L. Prill-Adams, Shannon D. Wolf

Importers appointed to the Delegate Body are: David E. Biltchik, Frank D. Jensen, Stig H. Kjaeroe, Rich Maebert, Ole Nielsen, Albert F. Pish, Roland L. Schinbeckler, and Jason E. Topolewski

Established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985, the Delegate Body and the National Pork Board have implemented a national program designed to improve the pork industry’s position in the marketplace. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees operations of the Delegate Body.

The program is funded by an assessment currently set at 0.40 percent of the market value of all hogs sold in the United States. An equivalent amount on imported hogs, pork, and pork products is also collected.

Delegates meet annually to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive and nominate producers and importers to the 15-member National Pork Board. The Delegate Body will be seated during the March 4-7, 2009, National Pork Industry Forum in Dallas, Texas.

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. New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming did not submit any nominees; Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Mexico each submitted a single nomination and Alaska submitted two. Secretary Tom Vilsack will continue to accept nominations to fill the 13 vacancies created by those states that did not submit their allotted nominees, and an announcement will be made at a later date if any additional appointments are made.