Gwen Sparks, (202) 260-8210 gwen.sparks@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2013 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed four members and four alternates to the National Honey Board. Each representative will serve a three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2014.
Newly appointed to the board are producers Douglas Hauke of Marshfield, Wis., who will serve as a member; and alternate Courtney Fullerton of Babb, Mont.
Members reappointed to the board include first handler Brent Barkman of Hillsboro, Kan., importer Candace Trussler of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; and marketing cooperative representative Mark Mammen of Sioux City, Iowa. Reappointed alternates include first handler Brian E. Nipper of Phoenix, Ariz.; importer Ronald P. Phipps of Bayville, N.Y.; and marketing cooperative representative Bob Brandi, of Los Banos, Calif.
Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, helping to ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion to learn more about research and promotion programs.
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