Release No. 050-16
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced 29 appointments to the National Potato Promotion Board. Each representative will serve for three years beginning March 1, 2016.
Newly appointed members representing producers are: Jason Davenport of Bakersfield, Calif.; Brian Meisner of Wray, Colo.; Trever Belnap of Hamer, Idaho; Kyle J. Jacobs of Rexburg, Idaho; Jaren Raybould of St. Anthony, Idaho; Shawn R. Doyen of Mapleton, Maine; Bernie A. Smiarowski of Hatfield, Mass.; Keith Tinsey of Grand Ledge, Mich.; Steve P. Streich of Kalispell, Mont.; Eric Halverson of Grand Forks, N.D.; Jim Carleton of Merrill, Ore.; Dan Walchli of Hermiston, Ore.; Weston Walker of Malin, Ore.; Bryan Bender of Chambersburg, Pa.; Jordan Reed of Pasco, Wash.; Kevin Thaemert of Quincy, Wash.; and Bill Grose of Terra Alta, W.Va.
Reappointed to the board are producers: David Tonso of Monte Vista, Colo.; Brant Darrington of Burley, Idaho; Merrill Hanny of Idaho Falls, Idaho; Eric Dee Sutton of Rexburg, Idaho; Dillon Masa VanOrden of Pingree, Idaho; John Halverson of Paragould, Ark.; Brian G. Theobald of Farmington, N.M.; Steven J. Gangwish of Kearney, Neb.; Kristi Gundersen of Bow, Wash.; Philip Mehlenbacher of Burbank, Wash.; and John Stahl of Ritzville, Wash.
Importer Anita Kakkar of Lawrenceville, N.J., was also appointed to the board.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the National Potato Promotion Board in accordance with the Potato Research and Promotion Act and the Potato Research and Promotion Plan. The program is administered by board members who are selected by the Secretary of Agriculture.
USDA encourages board membership that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to seek nomination for a seat on the National Potato Promotion Board.
Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress and date back to 1966, when Congress passed the Cotton Research and Promotion Act. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 research and promotion boards. They empower agricultural industries, including the fruit and vegetable industry, to leverage their own resources to develop markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
For more information about research and promotion programs, visit www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/research-promotion. For more information on the board, please contact Hakim Fobia at (202) 720-4835.
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