ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington, D.C.
Twelve members were appointed to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, with terms ending Oct. 31, 2019. Newly appointed members are Arlene Vander Eyk (Region 2); Stephen Maddox (Region 2); Manuel Caballero (Region 3); Connie Seefeldt (Region 6); Bobby Combs (Region 10); Jennifer Heltzel (Region 11); and Bret Bossard (Region 12). Re-appointed to serve second terms were Brian Medeiros (Region 2); Carol Ahlem (Region 2); Christopher Brazil (Region 2); Eddie Schaap (Region 4); and Cheryl Chapin (Region 9).
Cattlemen's Beef Board, Centennial, Colo.
Cattle producers Brett Morris of Ninnekah, Okla., will serve as chairman; Joan Ruskamp of Dodge, Neb., will serve as vice chairman; and Chuck Coffey of Springer, Okla., will serve as secretary/treasurer for the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). Morris is a third-generation dairy farmer and runs a dairy, cow/calf and stocker operation and the Washita Fertilizer Co. Morris served as chairman of the Oklahoma Dairy Commission, vice chairman of the Oklahoma Johne's Advisory Committee, as a district voting delegate to Dairy Farmers of America, a director of the Federation of State Beef Councils and as chairman and vice chairman of the Oklahoma Beef Council. Ruskamp operates a feedlot and row-crop farm, and has been active in the beef industry, with service to numerous producer organizations. In addition, she has been a 4-H leader for about 20 years, an EMT for more than a decade and a religious education teacher for nearly 30 years. Coffey is a fifth-generation rancher who grew up on a ranch, and taught agriculture at Murray State College. In 1993, he joined the Noble Foundation as a pasture and range consultant. New to the 2017 Executive committee is Jared Brackett, operator of a cow-calf/stocker operation and past president of the Idaho Cattlemen's Association; Amelia Kent, owner of Kent Farms; Bill King, owner of The Bill King Ranch; Gary Sharp, operator of Sharp's Inc.; Paul Moss of Tennessee; Don Smith of Texas; Richard Winter, in charge of livestock production at Quien Sabe Feeders; and Barbara Jacques, co-owner Seven D Ranch. Immediate past chairman Anne Anderson will serve as an advisor to the committee.