DENVER (February 16, 2011)—On Friday, February 11, 2011, Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack appointed 36 producer members to serve on the United States Potato Board (USPB) for three-year terms beginning March 1, 2011, and ending February 28, 2014.
“These appointees represent a cross section of the industry, and I am confident that potato producers will be well served by them,” said Vilsack.
Reappointed members are: Jeff Gibson of Burley, Idaho; Bevan Jeppesen, Rexburg, Idaho; Ritchey Toevs, Aberdeen, Idaho; Keith Labrie, St. Agatha, Maine; Alan Moir, Woodland, Maine; Tom Wingard, Elk River, Minnesota; Tom Campbell, Grafton, North Dakota; Eric Halverson, Grand Forks, North Dakota; Ben Tucker, Saint Thomas, North Dakota; Chris Slagell, Hydro, Oklahoma; Molly Connors, Richland, Washington; Rob Davis, Connell, Washington; Greg Ebe, Custer, Washington; Randy Mullen, Pasco, Washington; Chris Olsen, Othello, Washington; Ron Mach, Antigo, Wisconsin; Reid Reimann, Pasco, Washington; and Richard W. Okray, Plover, Wisconsin.
Newly appointed members are: Prim Parker of Elkton, Florida; Ken Burback, Center, Colorado; Steve S. Elfring, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Karlene Hardy, Oakley, Idaho; Raymond Matsuura, Blackfoot, Idaho; Douglas Ruff, Aberdeen, Idaho; Craig E. Searle, Burley, Idaho; Justin Dagen, Karlstad, Minnesota; Carl Hoverson, Larimore, North Dakota; Daniel George Chin, Klamath Falls, Oregon; J. Bruce Barrett, Muleshoe, Texas; Leon R. Baker, Moses Lake, Washington; Rex W. Calloway, Quincy, Washington; Jody Easterday, Pasco, Washington; Shawn Bula, Grand Marsh, Wisconsin; Rick Kantner, Madison, Wisconsin; and Michael M. Pink, Pasco, Washington.
Authorized under the 1971 Potato Research and Promotion Act, the National Potato Promotion Board (dba United States Potato Board) is composed of producers, importers and a public member appointed by the Secretary. Producer members are nominated at state and local producer meetings and by mail ballot. Each state is entitled to at least one producer member, and additional members are allotted on the basis of the volume of production. Importer members are nominated by importers, and the number of members—up to a maximum of five—is related to the volume of imports.
The USPB administers an industry-funded national research and promotion program to increase US exports and domestic potato consumption.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operations of the board. More information about the research and promotion programs is at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion.
Source: United States Potato Board
