USDA announced 163 producers and five importers have been appointed to the 2017 National Pork Producers Delegate Body. The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer associations and importer groups and will serve a 1-year term. 

The Delegate Body will be seated during the Feb. 27, 2017, to March 3, 2017, National Pork Industry Forum in Atlanta, Georgia. Appointed members representing pork producers by state:

Alabama: Tim C. Gates, Johnny K. Miller

Alaska: Pattie Worrell, Rich Worrell

Arizona: Michael Gruber, David R. Lewis

Arkansas: Patrick Pollack, Jason Henson

California: Ken Dyer, David M. Lopes

Colorado: Julie McCaleb, Roc M. Rutledge

Connecticut: Hazel T. Secchiaroli, Jonathan G. Secchiaroli

Delaware: John B. Tigner, Jr., Henry Clay Johnson IV

Florida: Tom Crawford, Ricky Lyons

Georgia: Dania DeVane, Mark Clemmer

Hawaii: Ronald B. McKeehan, Sr., Wayne Shimokawa

Idaho: Brad Thornton, Robert T. Johnson

Illinois: Robert C. Frase, Jason Propst, Michael Edward Haag, Pam Janssen, Curt Zehr, David Dedert

Indiana: Valerie Duttlinger, Nicholas Maple, Brian Martin, Sam D. Moffitt, Paul Sheldon, Joe Baldwin

Iowa: Marv Van Den Top, Gregg Hora, Sarah Rickelman, Al Wulfekuhle, Curtis Meier, Dave Struthers, Art Halstead, Erin Brenneman, Stephen Burgmeier, Howard Hill, Aaron Juergens, Steve Kerns, Greg Lear, Mark Meirick, Dwight Mogler, David Moody, Mike Paustian, Ryan Pudenz, Dale Reicks, Marv Rietema, Kenneth Ries, Joe Rotta, Jamie Schmidt, Leon C. Sheets, Jen Sorenson, Scott W. Tapper, Kris Thiele, Trent Thiele, Joel Van Gilst, John Vossberg

Kansas: Scott J. Pfortmiller, Roy J. Henry, Alan J. Haverkamp, Daniel E. Gerety II

Kentucky: Maurice Heard, Benji Hudnall

Louisiana: Louis J. Lirette, Rebecca Luke Lirette

Maine: Charlie Kenney, Laura Kenney

Maryland: Michael E. Stoner, Austin M. Stoner

Massachusetts: Peter W. Burrows, Lisa D. Colby

Michigan: Brian Pridgeon, Joel Phelps, Robert Dykhuis

Minnesota: Reuben Bode, Kevin W. Estrem, Pat FitzSimmons, Meg E. Freking, JoDee Haala, Dan Helvig, Brad Hennen, Brian Johnson, Roger Koosmann, Wanda Patsche, Sheila Schmid, Jackie Tlam, Myrna Welter

Mississippi: Donny Ray, Sean Boe

Missouri: Christine Chinn, Adam Dohrman, Scott Phillips, Dean Rehmeier

Montana: Jacob A. Waldner, David J. Hofer

Nebraska: Timothy Chancellor, Darin Uhlir, Michael Luckey, Duane Miller

Nevada: Katherine Combs, Sarah Stallard

New Hampshire: Lisa-Marie Gitschier, Doreen Ruth Gitschier

New Jersey: Kirk Stephens

New Mexico: Shawn B. Burrow

New York: James M. Luckman, Alicia Keller

North Carolina: Mark W. Daughtry, Jim Lynch, Brandon Warren, James L. Lamb, George H. Pettus, Stephen M. Williamson, Jr., Lorenda B. Overman, E. Ray Summerlin, David D. Herring, Santiago Vazquez, Dennis R. Waller

North Dakota: Seth D. Bacon, Dawn M. Jarolimek

Ohio: Drew A. Eckert, Dwain Guggenbiller, Scott Isler, Ryan W. McClure

Oklahoma: Bill Barnes, Cathy Vaughan, Jeff Mencke, Keith E. Reiner

Oregon: Shawn Blodgett, Amanda A. Blodgett

Pennsylvania: Scott Augsburger, Anthony W. Bender, Oscar J. Manbeck

South Carolina: Larry B. DeHart, Mark A. McLeod

South Dakota: Ryan Storm, Ferlyn Hofer, Adam Krause

Tennessee: James Mathis, Brandon Whitt

Texas: Corby Barrett, Robert Peffley

Utah: Cole D. Sorenson, Nathan K. Horton

Vermont: Bruce Hennessey

Virginia: Marla McPherson, Daniel M. Johnson

Washington: Tom Cocking, Robin Cocking

West Virginia: Elizabeth Stephens LaRue

Wisconsin: Jim Magolski, Jonathan Wyttenbach

Wyoming: Ana Shmidl, Shawn Shmidl

Importers appointed to the delegate body are: Stig Kjaeroe, Frank Jensen, Scott Fegler, Roland Schinbeckler, and Ole Nielsen.

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 Pork Board. 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.

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. 

Source: USDA AMS