The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the appointment of 13 members to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Twelve of the 13 appointees will serve three-year terms, effective immediately, through Oct. 31, 2025. The remaining appointee will serve the remaining two years of a vacant position, effective immediately and expiring October 31, 2024.
The newly appointed members are:
- Jennifer Julie De Boer, California (Region 2)
- Roger Fluegel, California (Region 2)
- Rebecca (Becky) Andrus Nyman, California (Region 2)
- Ted Anthony Joseph Pedrozo, California (Region 2)
- Janna Irene Scott, California, (Region 2) (2-year term)
- David C. Roberts, Utah (Region 3)
- Tara McCrory Vander Dussen, New Mexico (Region 4)
- Gail Gena Klinkner, Wisconsin (Region 6)
- Laura (Lolly) Lesher, Pennsylvania (Region 11)
- Valerie A. Lavigne, New York (Region 12)
Reappointed members are:
- Justin Frank Leyendekker, California (Region 2)
- James (Jim) William Reid, Michigan (Region 9)
- Joanna Bowman Shipp, Virginia (Region 10)
The board is composed of 36 dairy farmer members who represent 12 geographic regions within the United States and one importer member who represents dairy importers. The board was established by the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 to develop and administer a coordinated program of advertising and promotion to increase the demand for dairy products and ingredients.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.
AMS policy is that the diversity of the board should reflect the diversity of their industries in 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.
More information about the board is available on the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Dairy Promotion and Research Board webpage.
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