USMEF BOD Meeting                              ...

USMEF BOD Meeting                                                              

Directors Elect John W. Bellinger As Chairman

USMEF elected John Bellinger the San Antonio, Texas-based head of of Agri-West International, Inc. as chairman for 2005-2006 on Friday during its Board of Directors Strategic Planning and Marketing Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

USMEF also elected Dennis Erpelding, Greenfield, Indiana, of Elanco Animal Health, as chairman-elect, Dan Halstrom, Greeley, Colo., of Swift & Company as vice chair, and Glen Keppy, a Davenport, Iowa pork producer, as secretary-treasurer.

“I plan to encourage and increase open communication among USMEF members, help redefine USMEF’s role in the international market place, adapt to new opportunities and challenges and increase market access,” said Bellinger after accepting the position. Bellinger takes over from outgoing chairman Alan Smith of Cargill Meat Solutions.

Also named were members to fill vacancies for representatives for USMEF’s distinct sectors, covering the entire U.S. production, processing and distribution system. USMEF represents beef/veal producers and feeders, pork producers and feeders, lamb producers and feeders, packers and processors, purveyors and traders, oilseeds producers, feedgrains producers, farm organizations and supply and service organizations. New sector representatives named are: Keith Miller, Kansas Farm Bureau, who will represent farm organizations; Cliff Smith, Iowa Corn Promotion Board to represent feedgrains; and Jon Caspers, National Pork Producers Council, to represent pork producers.

The Board of Directors also passed a resolution offered by the Exporter Committee calling for no additional FSIS “user fees” to be imposed upon the meat industry for the purpose of conducting food safety inspections.

Photo 1- John W. Bellinger speaking to USMEF members.

USMEF BOD Meeting                                                              

Directors Elect John W. Bellinger As Chairman

USMEF elected John Bellinger the San Antonio, Texas-based head of of Agri-West International, Inc. as chairman for 2005-2006 on Friday during its Board of Directors Strategic Planning and Marketing Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

USMEF also elected Dennis Erpelding, Greenfield, Indiana, of Elanco Animal Health, as chairman-elect, Dan Halstrom, Greeley, Colo., of Swift & Company as vice chair, and Glen Keppy, a Davenport, Iowa pork producer, as secretary-treasurer.

“I plan to encourage and increase open communication among USMEF members, help redefine USMEF’s role in the international market place, adapt to new opportunities and challenges and increase market access,” said Bellinger after accepting the position. Bellinger takes over from outgoing chairman Alan Smith of Cargill Meat Solutions.

Also named were members to fill vacancies for representatives for USMEF’s distinct sectors, covering the entire U.S. production, processing and distribution system. USMEF represents beef/veal producers and feeders, pork producers and feeders, lamb producers and feeders, packers and processors, purveyors and traders, oilseeds producers, feedgrains producers, farm organizations and supply and service organizations. New sector representatives named are: Keith Miller, Kansas Farm Bureau, who will represent farm organizations; Cliff Smith, Iowa Corn Promotion Board to represent feedgrains; and Jon Caspers, National Pork Producers Council, to represent pork producers.

The Board of Directors also passed a resolution offered by the Exporter Committee calling for no additional FSIS “user fees” to be imposed upon the meat industry for the purpose of conducting food safety inspections.

Photo 1- John W. Bellinger speaking to USMEF members.