WASHINGTON, March 5, 2018 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of 11 members and 10 alternates to serve on the American Egg Board. Nine member appointees and nine alternates will serve two-year terms. Three appointees -- two members and one alternate -- will serve the remaining one-year portion of vacant positions. The appointed members and alternates are:

North Atlantic States

Karyn Kreher, Clarence Center, N.Y., member

Paul Sauder, Hershey, Pa., alternate member

Christopher Pierce, Annville, Pa., member (1-year term)

South Atlantic States

Charles J. Hardin, Jackson, Miss., member

Tim E. Floyd, Hartwell, Ga., alternate member

Alex Richard Simpson, Monroe, N.C., member

John C. Watson III, Raleigh, N.C., alternate member

East North Central States

Thomas Stoller, Ohio City, Ohio, member

Tim Vande Bunte, Holland, Mich., alternate member

Robert Gornichec, Centerburg, Ohio, alternate member (1-year term)

West North Central States

Amos Baer, Lake Park, Minn., member

Andrew Seger, Jasper, Ind., alternate member

South Central States

Steven L. George, Grinnell, Iowa, member

Blair Van Zetten, Oskaloosa, Iowa, alternate member

Brent G. Nelson, Manhattan, Kan., member

Brian Joyer, Litchfield, Minn. (Iowa Farms), alternate member

Western States

Michael I. Sencer, Glendora, Calif., member

Clint Hickman, Goodyear, Ariz., alternate member

Mark Oldenkamp, Canby, Ore., member

Roger Deffner, Mill Creek, Wash., alternate member

Anthony Demler, Ramona, Calif., member (1-year term)

“From hard boiled to over-easy, the demand for eggs continues to grow. More Americans are looking to include eggs as part of their nutritious breakfast and egg producers across the country are helping consumers add more protein to their morning,” said Perdue. “I know that these appointees, with their wide range of experience, will help meet the needs of the egg industry so it can continue bringing eggs to the American table.”

The American Egg Board is composed of 18 members and 18 alternates representing six areas. The board is authorized by the Egg Research and Consumer Information Act of 1974. Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They employ farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity for participating stakeholders.

More information about the board is available on the American Egg Board page on the AMS website and on the American Egg Board website.

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