The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the appointment of 163 producers and five importers to the 2017 National Pork Producers Delegate Body.

The appointees were selected from nominees submitted by state pork producer associations and importer groups. Each delegate will serve a 1-year term.

Iowa will be represented at the National Pork Industry Forum in Atlanta by:

Marv Van Den Top, Gregg Hora, Sarah Rickelman, Al Wulfekuhle, Curtis Meier, Dave Struthers, Art Halstead, Erin Brenneman, Stephen Burgmeier, Howard Hill, Aaron Juergens, Steve Kerns, Greg Lear, Mark Meirick, Dwight Mogler, David Moody, Mike Paustian, Ryan Pudenz, Dale Reicks, Marv Rietema, Kenneth Ries, Joe Rotta, Jamie Schmidt, Leon C. Sheets, Jen Sorenson, Scott W. Tapper, Kris Thiele, Trent Thiele, Joel Van Gilst, John Vossberg

Pork Forum will be held Feb. 27, to March 3.

Delegates meet annually to recommend the rate of assessment, determine the percentage of assessments that state associations will receive, and nominate producers and importers to the National Pork Board. Representation on the delegate body is based on annual net assessments collected on sales of domestic hogs within individual states, with a minimum of two producers from each state. States have the option of not submitting nominees.

The National Pork Board and the delegate body were established under the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985. By law, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service oversees operations of the Pork Board and the delegate body.

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