The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of six members to the National Pork Board. Five appointees will serve three-year terms from June 2021 through June 2024, and one appointee will serve a one-year term from June 2021 through June 2022.
The appointed members are:
- Patrick N. Bane, Arrowsmith, Ill. (three-year term)
- Dale E. Stevermer, Easton, Minn. (three-year term)
- Denise W. Mason, Mount Olive, N.C. (three-year term)
- Richard (Rich) F. Deaton, New Madison, Ohio (three-year term)
- Robert (Bob) M. Ruth, Harrisburg, Pa. (three-year term)
- Jeremy L. Burkett, Evansville, Wyo. (one-year term)
The National Pork Board is composed of 15 pork producers nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body, which is made up of 145 producer members and five importer members.
The program was created and is administered under the authority of the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985. It became effective September 5, 1986, when the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order was implemented. Assessments began November 1, 1986.
More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Pork Board webpage and on the National Pork Board website, porkcheckoff.org.
AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of its industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. When submitting nominations, the industry must consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
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