The Missouri Beef Industry Council board of directors has elected new officers for the 2008 fiscal year. James Rickman of Stockton will chair the board, which administers the $1 per head beef checkoff in Missouri. Rickman was recently re-elected to serve his second three-year term.

Rickman owns a cattle-feeding operation in Cedar County and co-owns Farmer's Market of Bolivar with his brother, John Rickman. He lives in Stockton with his wife, Jessica and their two young children, Jenna and Jack.

He encourages his fellow producers to stay informed about programs funded by the beef checkoff. "If they get involved, attend some of the farm shows, or see the Beefmobile when it's at their local sale barn, they would be amazed at just exactly what their dollar is doing for them," Rickman says.

Leon James, a cow-calf operator from Hurdland in Knox County, was elected vice chairman of the board. Pat Wood of LaMonte is secretary and Jim Freeman of Salem was re-elected treasurer. New board members seated at the October meeting included at-large member Matt Reynolds of Huntsville and John Redman of Amity who represents District 1 in northwest Missouri.

Other MBIC board members include David "Blue" Geier of California, Jay Stahl of Lamar, Andy Cloud of Carthage, John Browning of Palmyra, Kevin Frankenbach of Hannibal, Gerald Campbell of Licking and David Moore of Farmington.

FYI
More information, visit www.mobeef.org.