DENVER — On Jan. 7, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appointed or reappointed 38 grower members to serve on the United States Potato Board for three-year terms beginning March 1, 2014, and ending February 28, 2017.
In 2012, the USDA challenged the USPB to develop a plan to communicate all USPB programs and opportunities to all growers in the United States, and specifically to solicit interest in USPB membership and representation from minor producing states, or states previously represented by assigned proxy states on the USPB. Some of these states had previously been represented, but had since lost their own direct representation on the USPB due, predominantly, to years of steady industry attrition in these production regions.
Along with the members listed in the adjacent graphic, importer Sanjiv Kakkar of Lawrenceville, N.J., and public member appointee Jennifer Phillips from Arlington Heights, Ill., were also appointed to the board.
Authorized under the 1971 Potato Research and Promotion Act, the National Potato Promotion Board (dba United States Potato Board) is composed of growers, importers and a public member appointed by the secretary of agriculture. Grower members are nominated at state and local grower 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.
Newly appointed USPB members
Brandon Berce, St. Agatha, Maine
Brandon Boorman, Quincy, Wash.
Adam Bula, Antigo, Wis.
Robert Conger, St. Anthony, Idaho
Brett Dixon, Bakersfield, Calif.
Mark Finnessy, Amherst, Wis.
Gerald Greenwalt, Quincy, Wash.
Myron Hawley, Ferndale, Wash.
Kerry Heilig, Moses Lake, Wash.
Casey Hoverson, Manuel, N.D.
Kael Koompin, American Falls, Idaho
Thomas Kress, American Falls, Idaho
Jay LaJoie, Van Buren, Maine
Dwight Little II, Newdale, Idaho
Michael Madsen, Hermiston, Ore.
Tim May, Imperial, Neb.
Katie Neumiller-Floming, Thomas, Ill.
Prim Parker, Elkton, Fla.
Brandon Schaapman, Quincy, Wash.
Eric Schroeder, Deerbrook, Wis.
William Sheldon, Ray, N.D.
Tyler Sorenson, Kennewick, Wash.
Jerry Tominaga, Rupert, Idaho
Reappointed USPB members
John Barrett, Springlake, Texas
Kenneth Burback, Center, Colo.
Rex Calloway, Quincy, Wash.
Daniel Chin, Klamath Falls, Ore.
Justin Dagen, Karlstad, Minn.
Jody Easterday, Pasco, Wash.
Steve Elfering, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Karlene Hardy, Oakley, Idaho
Carl Hoverson, Larimore, N.D.
Richard Kantner, Freeland, Wis.
Raymond Matsuura, Blackfoot, Idaho
Michael Pink, Mesa, Wash.
Craig Searle, Burley, IdahoThierry