Source: USDA, 2/5/16

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of 157 producers and three importers to the 2016 National Pork Producers Delegate Body. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer association and importer groups and will serve a 1-year term.

Appointed members representing pork producers by state are:
Alabama: Tim Donaldson, Luther Leighton Bishop
Arizona: Lori Conrow, David R. Lewis
Arkansas: Richard Gray, James Seward
California: David M. Lopes, Randy Long
Colorado: Julie McCaleb, Roc M. Rutledge
Delaware: John B. Tigner, Jr., Henry Clay Johnson IV
Florida: Ricky Lyons, Tommy R. Crawford
Georgia: Dania DeVane, Mark Clemmer
Hawaii: Wayne Shimokawa, Stacy Sugai
Idaho: Dustin Olsen, Logan Thornton
Illinois: Curt Zehr, Pamela S. Janssen, Todd Andrew Dail, Jason Propst, Robert C. Frase, Dave Conrady
Indiana: Valerie Duttlinger, Heather Hill, Nick Maple, Brian Martin, Sam D. Moffitt, Paul Sheldon
Iowa: Mike Ver Steeg, Gregg Hora, Trent Thiele, Al Wulfekuhle, Bryan Karwal, Gene Noem, Art Halstead, Daniel J. Wetherell, Tim Bierman, Erin Brenneman, Howard Hill, Jason Hocker, Aaron Juergens, Steven Kerns, Greg Lear, Curtis Meier, Mark Meirick, David Moody, Michael Paustian, Dale Reicks, Kenneth Ries, Marvin J. Rietema, Joe Rotta, Jamie Schmidt, Timothy J. Schmidt, Leon C. Sheets, Dave Struthers, Scott W. Tapper, John Vossberg, Jill Graham
Kansas: Scott J. Pfortmiller, Kent F. Condray, Roy J. Henry, Alan J. Haverkamp
Kentucky: Benji R. Hudnall, Eric Heard
Louisiana: Louis J. Lirette, Rebecca Luke Lirette
Maine: Barrett A. Parks, Deena Albert Parks
Maryland: Jennifer Debnam, G. Raney Debnam V
Massachusetts: Peter W. Burrows, Lisa D. Colby
Michigan: Andy White, Joel Phelps, Erin Ehinger
Minnesota: Reuben Bode, Kevin W. Estrem, Pat FitzSimmons, Meg E. Freking, Kelly D. Graff, Brad Hennen, Brian B. Johnson, Wanda Patsche, Mark Sample, Sheila A. Schmid, Jackie Tlam, Myrna Welter, JoDee Haala
Mississippi: Donny Ray, Terry Emerson
Missouri: Chris Chinn, Adam Dohrman, Francis Forst, Scott Phillips
Montana: Joseph D. Hofer, Jacob A. Waldner
Nebraska: Scott A. Spilker, Darin J. Uhlir, Kevin Peterson, Duane Miller, Michael Luckey
New Hampshire: Lisa-Marie R. Gitschier, Alicia Pedemonti
New Jersey: Kirk Stephens
New York: James M. Luckman, Jennifer L. Schwab
North Carolina: James L. Lamb, Ray Summerlin, Brandon L. Warren, Don Butler, George H. Pettus, Jim H. Lynch, Brian Kennedy, Bryant Worley, Deborah Ballance, Gaye D. Crowther, Rhonda Campbell
North Dakota: Sam Peck, Jacob Hell
Ohio: Matt Bell, William R. Knapke, David I. Shoup, Brian H. Watkins
Oklahoma: Tina R. Falcon, Dottie King, Keith E. Reiner, Robert Jack Woods
Oregon: Ray Blake, Jennifer Blake
Pennsylvania: Mark E. Ebaugh, Oscar J. Manbeck, David A. Reinecker
Rhode Island: Roberta J. Mulholland
South Carolina: Larry B. DeHart, Mark A. McLeod
South Dakota: Ryan Storm, Peggy Greenway, Shane Odegaard
Tennessee: Dennis Holder, Brandon Whitt
Texas: Mike Gruber, Robert Peffley
Utah: Todd N. Ballard, Mike Falslev
Vermont: Bruce Hennessey
Virginia: Keith Allen, R.O. Britt
Washington: Tom Cocking, Robin Cocking
West Virginia: Chuck Talbott
Wisconsin: Thomas J. Knauer, Mike Salter
Wyoming: Marion D. Robinson

Importers appointed to the delegate body are: Ole Nielsen, Stig Kjaeroe, and Magdalena Zamorska.

The National Pork 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 oversees operations of the Pork Board and the Delegate Body.

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.

Delegates meet 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.  The Delegate Body will be seated during the March 1-5, 2016, National Pork Industry Forum in Indianapolis, Indiana.