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(NDAgConnection.com) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of 19 new farmer-leaders to serve on the United Soybean Board (USB). In addition, 24 farmer-leaders were reappointed. Forty-six leaders and alternates will serve three-year terms, and one new appointed member will serve a one-year term. Leaders will be sworn in for service during the USB December Meeting in St. Charles, Mo.

“We are thrilled about this group of directors joining us, whether they are new or returning farmer-leaders,” said Ralph Lott, USB chair and farmer from New York. “Each of them offers different expertise and industry insights that will assist with making strategic checkoff investments to benefit all U.S. soybean farmers now and looking at what’s ahead.”

The soy checkoff provides significant value to farmers by continuing to fund programs that build preference for U.S. soybeans across the country and throughout the world. Authorized by the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the checkoff is composed of 77 members representing 29 states, in addition to the Eastern and Western regions. The number of seats on the board and farmer representation is based on bushels produced in each of the production regions. Members must be soybean farmers nominated by a Qualified State Soybean Board.

“I look forward to the diverse perspectives these farmer-leaders will bring to our board. Together, we will work to create value for U.S. soybean farmers through strategically designed research, education and promotion programs,” said Meagan Kaiser, USB vice chair and Missouri farmer.

Newly appointed farmer-leaders include:

Arkansas — Dustin Henson, Paragould

Illinois — David Wessel, Chandlerville; and Dwayne R. Anderson, Lynn Center

Indiana — Matthew Chapman, Springport

Iowa — Robb Ewoldt, Davenport; and Brent Renner, Klemme (1-year term)

Louisiana — Joseph Boudreaux, Port Barre

Maryland — R. Travis Hutchison, Cordova

Michigan — Dennis J. Gardner, Croswell; and Carla Schultz, Mayville

Minnesota — Thomas F. Frisch, Dumont

Mississippi — Matthew Guedon, Natchez

Nebraska — Victor Bohuslavsky, Seward

New Jersey — Patrick Giberson, Pemberton

New York — Jason E. Swede, Piffard

Oklahoma — Brent A. Rendel, Miami

South Dakota — Dawn Scheier, Salem

Wisconsin — Sara R. Stelter, Wautoma

Western Region — Rod Hahn, Yuma, Colo.

Reappointed farmer-leaders include:

Delaware — Cory Atkins, Seaford

Indiana — Donald Andrew Wyss II, Fort Wayne

Kansas — Kurt Maurath, Oakley; and Lance Rezac, Onaga

Kentucky — Barry Lee Alexander, Cadiz

Minnesota — Gene Stoel, Lake Wilson

Mississippi — Jerry Slocum, Coldwater

Missouri — Neal W. Bredehoeft, Alma; and Meagan Kaiser, Bowling Green

Nebraska — Edward Lammers, Hartington

North Carolina — Reginald H. Strickland, Mount Olive

North Dakota — Matthew Gast, Valley City; Ryan Richard, Horace; and Darren Kadlec, Pisek

Ohio — Steve Reinhard, Bucyrus; and Charles W. Bayliss, West Mansfield

Pennsylvania — John Harrell, Lebanon

South Dakota — Michael McCranie, Claremont

Tennessee — Don Willis, Hillsboro; and Steve May, Hurricane Mills

Virginia — Susan A. Watkins, Sutherland

Wisconsin — Nancy Kavazanjian, Beaver Dam; and Tony Mellenthin, Eau Galle

Eastern Region — J. Nicholas Kercheval, Harpers Ferry, W.V.

Newly appointed alternates include:

Delaware — Robert L. Emerson III, Middletown

New York — Seth Pritchard, Canandaigua

Eastern Region — Mark H. Kable, Charles Town, W.V.

Western Region — Ross Watermann, Vona, Colo.