Source:  Dani Friedland,  MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/15/11

Rick Huisinga will serve as the 2011 chairman for the National Turkey Federation, the industry group announced.

The NTF’s board of directors elected Huisinga to the post.

“I’m a pragmatic person and I believe that using common sense and simply doing the right thing will serve us well to mitigate the numerous regulatory and legislative issues our industry will continue to face in this strange political climate,” said Huisinga in his acceptance speech. “Whether it is talking about environmental stewardship, the responsible use of antibiotics or food safety practices, we can all do the right thing by being a part of the public affairs process.”

Several other newly elected NTF leaders join Huisinga, executive vice president of Willmar Poultry Company in Willmar, Minn. The Board of Directors elected Steve Willardsen, who is currently president of Carvill Value Added Meats, to serve as vice chairman. John Burkel, director of Northern Pride, Inc., will be secretary-treasurer, and Yubert Envia, vice president of turkey and prepared foods at Foster Farms, is now the immediate past chairman.

During its annual convention, the NTF’s board also reelected Gary Cooper of Cooper Farms, Jihad Douglas of Aviagen Turkeys, Paul Hill of West Liberty Foods, Ron Prestage of Prestage Farms, John Reicks of Sara Lee Food and Beverage, Ted Seger of Farbest Foods, Inc, and Carl Wittenburg of Protein Alliance, Inc. to additional terms on the Executive Committee. Jim Leighton of Perdue Farms, Inc., was also elected to his first term on the executive committee.

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