WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2011 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed three members to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center’s board of directors. Members will serve a three-year term of office beginning January 2012.
Linda S. Campbell of Luray, Va. and Rochelle A. Oxarango from Soda Springs, Idaho have been reappointed to the board to represent sheep and goat producers. Newly appointed member Gregory R. Ahart, from Sacramento, Calif., will represent expertise in marketing.
“These appointees represent a cross section of the sheep and goat industries,” said Vilsack. “I am confident that the industries will be well served by them.”
The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center, established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill, is designed to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. sheep and goat industries.
The board is composed of seven voting and two non-voting members. Voting members include four active producers of sheep or goats in the United States, two finance and management experts, and an expert in lamb, wool, goat, or goat product marketing. Non-voting members include USDA’s Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight of the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center.
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