Edmund R. Hildenbrand, Huntingburg, Ind., will soon have a new role to fulfill. The Dubois County cattleman is one of 40 appointees nationwide recently announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. He will serve on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board.

The board, more commonly referred to as the Cattlemen’s Beef Board or CBB, is one of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards authorized by Congress since 1966. The goal is empowering farmers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight for the program.

Hildenbrand is taking the seat held by Norman Voyles Jr., Martinsville, Ind., for the past six years. Voyles served the maximum time allowed — two three-year terms. In fact, he served as chairman of the CBB for the past year.

Hildenbrand’s first official meeting as a member of the board will occur this summer. The CBB consists of 100 members and was established in 1985 by Congress. Appointees are nominated by beef, veal, dairy and importer-certified organizations, and selected and named by the sitting U.S. ag secretary.