The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of 156 delegates, including 150 producers and six importers, to the 2025 National Pork Producers Delegate Body.
Members appointed to serve one-year terms are:
Alabama: Daniel Tubbs, Oakman; and Brian L. Anderson, Auburn
Alaska: Patricia Worrell, Wasilla; and Richard Worrell, Wasilla
Arizona: Bruce Lawler, Lakeside; and Brad Tate, Taylor
Arkansas: Pat Pollack, Russellville; and Corey Allen Whisenhunt, Nashville
California: Morgan Wonderly, Arroyo Grande; and Shelby Sopocy, Sacramento
Colorado: Jeff M. Ovalle, Yuma; and Felipe M. Gallegos, Las Animas
Connecticut: Hazel Secchiaroli, Waterford; and Jonathan Secchiaroli, Waterford
Delaware: John B. Tigner, Hartly; and Laura McClements, Clayton
Florida: Tommy Crawford, Lake Butler; and Kyle Mendes, Lake Butler
Georgia: Dania DeVane, Cuthbert; and Mark Clemmer, Broxton
Idaho: Logan Thornton, Kuna; and Jared T. Teuscher, Burley
Illinois: Chad Leman, Eureka; Cheryl L. Walsh, Princeville; Thomas Titus, Elkhart; Joshua D. Maschhoff, Nashville; Katie Brown, Morrisonville; and Dale Weitekamp, Raymond
Indiana: Nicholas Tharp, Coatesville; Heather A. Hill, Greenfield; Jacqueline Bowman Ponder, Greenwood; Melissa Bradford, Crawfordsville; Mike Taylor, Uniondale; and Adam Starkey, Peru
Iowa: Trish Cook, Winthrop; Linda Schroeder, Remsen; Matthew Gent, Wellman; Trent Thiele, Elma; Dale Gerard Reicks, New Hampton; Erin Brenneman, Wellman; Joel Van Gilst, Oskaloosa; Gregg Hora, Fort Dodge; Timothy J. Schmidt, Hawarden; Jen Sorenson, Ankeny; Aaron Cook, Winthrop; Dean Frazer, Conrad; Tom Paustian, Walcott; Chet Mogler, Larchwood; Tim Bierman, Larrabee; Aaron Juergens, Carroll; Jamie Schmidt, Garner; Ben Schmaling, Prescott; Denise K. Wiley, Walker; Steven Kerns, Clearfield; Todd A. Wiley, Walker; Greg Lear, Spencer; Lance Heuser, Mason; Bill Tentinger, Le Mars; Mark Meirick, Protivin; Clark Wikner, McGregor; Leon C. Sheets, Ionia; David Moody, Collins; Ken Ries, Ryan; and Haley Kerr, Burlington
Kansas: Chad Groves, Overland Park; Scott Pfortmiller, Saint John; Emily Roush, Lebanon; and Michael Springer, Neodesha
Kentucky: Michael Williford, Clinton; and Annie Tolle, Shelbyville
Louisiana: Brady C. Rutledge, Iowa; and John Fontenot, Iowa
Maine: Brittany Hemond, Minot; and Michael Hemond, Minot
Maryland: Michael Stoner, Taneytown
Michigan: Andy White, Jones; Kevin C. Turner, Lansing; and Jarred Lorenz, Kalamazoo
Minnesota: Chris Compart, Nicollet; Mike Boerboom, Marshall; Brian Schwartz, Sleepy Eye; Todd Selvik, Waseca; Gordon Spronk, Edgerton; Dale Stevermer, Easton; Vincent Baack, North Mankato; Myrna Welter, Stewartville; Roger Punt, Prinsburg; Jay Fultz, Tracy; Brad Kluver, Lakeville; and Michael J. Walker, Belview
Mississippi: Sean Boe, Moselle; and Gerald Thompson, Bruce
Missouri: Steve Brier, Nevada; Dean Rehmeier, Augusta; Anthony Russo, Columbia; and Jeff Sims, Marshall
Montana: Peter John Wipf, Carter; and David (Shorty) Hofer, Conrad
Nebraska: Mark Wright, Fremont; Darin Uhlir, Saint Paul; Austin Zimmerman, Wymore; and Tim Chancellor, Broken Bow
Nevada: Clayton Combs, Las Vegas; and Sarah Stallard, Las Vegas
New Jersey: Kirk Stephens, Sussex
New York: Richard Reese, Fort Plain; and Jennifer Schwab, North Java
North Carolina: Joshua Coombs, Clinton; Bill Prestage, Clinton; Jay Archer, Tarboro; Jennifer Daniels, Autryville; Robert C. Herring, Mount Olive; Brian J. Kennedy, Pink Hill; Lorenda B. Overman, Goldsboro; Hunter Thomas, Timberlake; and Yolando Castelo, Winterville
North Dakota: Nick Bundermann, Starkweather; and Brian Zimprich, Milnor
Ohio: Kevin Stuckey, Hicksville; Jarred Black, Canal Winchester, John D. Heinz, Washington Court House; and Nathan D. Isler, Prospect
Oklahoma: Thomas L. Layne, Jr., Enid; Hannah Trujillo, Henryetta; and Joe E. Locke, Marietta
Oregon: Jack Hurley, Albany; and Nicki Hurley, Albany
Pennsylvania: Ben Barcovtch, Berwick; Drew Derstein, Lewistown; Jason Manbeck, Saint Bethel; and Matt D. Brandt, Selinsgrove
South Carolina: Mark A. McLeod, Pinewood; and Brandon Glenn, Manning
South Dakota: Jason Foster, Garden City; Ryan Storm, Mount Vernon; Ben Klumb, Ethan; and Chad Stoterau, Sherman
Tennessee: James Mathis, Duck River
Texas: Peter C. Baumert, Dalhart; and Jeremy Wayne Rounsavall, Robstown
Utah: Ryan Goff, Cedar City; and Ruben N. Vasquez, Beaver
Virginia: Dylan Carden, Prince George; and Sarah Large, Dillwyn
Washington: Katarina Holbrook, Airway Heights, and Tom Cocking, Colfax
Wisconsin: Howard A.V. Roth, Wauzeka; and Christina Meylor, Darlington
Wyoming: Joe Bridges, Powell; and Damein A. Christensen, Riverton
Importers: Martin Sauer, Jersey City, N.J.; Roland L. Schinbeckler, Warren, N.J.; George Gekas, Philadelphia, Pa; Ole Nielsen, Madison, N.J.; Rich Maebert, South Orange, N.J.; and Elisa Sandson, Arlington, Va.
The delegate body meets annually to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive, and nominate producers and importers to the National Pork Board. 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.
The 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 board and the delegate body.
AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender