(NAFB.com) – Steven Hanson, a rancher and cattle feeder from Nebraska was elected chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation at the organization’s Strategic Planning Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Hanson said a priority will be to highlight the partnerships with the various checkoffs that support the work of USMEF around the globe. He also touted the strength that comes from the unified work of all the various sectors of the red meat industry that are involved in the USMEF. Hanson succeeds Minnesota hog producer and grain farmer Randy Spronk. Jay Theiler is the USMEF Chair-Elect and executive vice president of corporate affairs for Agri Beef Co., a diversified business with operations in every step of the beef supply chain, including ranching cattle feeding, cattle nutrition, and beef processing. Dave Bruntz is USMEF’s vice chair and president of Bruntz Farming and Feeding in Southeastern Nebraska and raises irrigated corn and soybeans and feeds cattle.