The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 11 members and nine alternates to serve on the American Egg Board. Eighteen members and alternates will serve two-year terms, and two members will serve a one-year term. The terms of the new appointees will begin March 2025.
Newly appointed members and alternates are:
East States
Jessica Hanslik, Ridgeland, Miss., member
Libby Schwab, Hanover, N.H., alternate member
John Puglisi, Howell, N.J., member
Mark Sauder, Lititz, Pa., alternate member
John C. Watson III, Raleigh, N.C., member
Lake Wagner, Abingdon, Va., alternate member
Gijs Schimmel, Lexington, Ga., member (1-year term)
Central States
Thomas Edward Hertzfeld III, Whitehouse, Ohio, member
Mitch Knapke, Saint Henry, Ohio, alternate member
Jeffrey Cutler, Fort Recovery, Ohio, member
Alex Weaver, Versailles, Ohio, alternate member
Sean Delano, Whitewater, Wis., member
Melinda Creighton Truex, Warsaw, Ind., alternate member
Tim Zweering, Holland, Mich., member
Ted Greidanus, Neosho, Mo., alternate member
West States
Clint Hickman, Litchfield Park, Ariz., member
Tracy Ramsdell, Flandreau, S.D., alternate member
Emily Battilega, Sioux Center, Iowa, member
Pat Melena, Wayne, Neb., alternate member
Justin Haats, Spicer, Minn., member (1-year term)
The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing three areas and is authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. More information about the board and list of board members is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) American Egg Board webpage.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies, and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender