National Pork Board Honors Producers during Annual Meeting

published on 03/05/2010

The National Pork Board honored three retiring producer members and its outgoing president during the National Pork Industry Forum March 4-6 in Kansas City, Mo.

Tim Bierman, a pork producer from Larrabee, Iowa, was recognized for serving as president of the National Pork Board.  Bierman's term as president and his second three-year term as a board member end in August. As past president, he will remain on the board an additional year in an advisory capacity.

"Few National Pork Board presidents have faced the challenges that confronted Tim: U.S. producers were mired in one of the worst profitability challenges ever; the voices of opponents of modern production practices have grown louder and more strident; the H1N1 flu outbreak and its misnaming by media added pressure at home and abroad," said Gene Nemechek of Springdale, Ark., and National Pork Board vice president.  "Through it all, working with his board of directors, he helped create a steady and consistent response to each challenge."

In addition to serving as president, Bierman serves on the Compensation Committee, Domestic Marketing Committee, Administration Committee and Trade Committee. He also had served on the Animal Welfare Committee, Budget Committee, Audit Committee and Resolutions Committee.

Bruce Samson, a pork producer from Three Forks, Mont., and Steve Weaver, a pork producer from Elk Grove, Calif., were honored for six years of service to the National Pork Board.  Jeff Galle, a pork producer from Pittsfield, Ill., was honored for three years of services to the National Pork Board.

Samson, a producer who has 300 sows and markets 5,500 pigs annually, serves on the Audit Committee, Niche Marketing Committee, Nutrition Committee, Swine Health Committee and Animal Science Committee. He had also served on the Administrative Committee, Budget Committee and Resolutions Committee.

Weaver, a producer who has 60 sows and markets 1,000 pigs annually, is the immediate past president of the National Pork board.  He serves on the Compensation Committee, Domestic Marketing Committee, Audit Committee, Pork Safety and the National Pork Board Plan of Work and Budget Task Force.  He had also served on the Animal Welfare Committee, Administrative Committee, Budget Committee, Niche Marketing Committee, Producer and State Relations Committee, Producer Services and Swine Health Committee.

Galle, the director of the agricultural and horticultural sciences for John Wood Community College and owner/president of GPPE Ltd., serves on the Domestic Marketing Committee and Producer Services Committee. He also had served on the Administrative Committee, Budget Committee, Audit Committee, Nominating Committee, Producer and State Relations Committee, Resolutions Committee and Swine Health Committee.

The National Pork Board consists of 15 members, each serving a maximum of two three-year terms. The Pork Act requires that no fewer than 12 states be represented by the 15 Pork Board members.

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.

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