USDA Announces Appointments to the National Pork Producers Delegate Body

Date
December 23, 2024

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