Julie Tomascik
Editor

Four Texans are among the 35 members set to serve new terms on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced David Henderson of Tennessee Colony, Bilynn Johnson of Happy, Ernie Morales of Devine and Wesley Ratcliff of Oakwood were appointed to serve beginning February 2022.

The CBB is the oversight of the beef checkoff, which is the collection of $1 per head on all cattle sold in the U.S. and $1 per head equivalent on imported cattle, beef and beef products.

The full list of newly appointed members includes:

  • Arizona – Sine Kerr, Buckeye
  • Colorado – Constance Hass, Trinidad
  • Iowa – David C. Bruene, Kelley; and E. Michael Holden, Scranton
  • Kansas – Evan Lesser, Palco; and Larry W. Kendig, Osborne
  • Louisiana – John M. Thompson, Saint Francisville
  • Michigan – Monte J. Bordner, Sturgis
  • Minnesota – Bill Post, Chandler
  • Mississippi – Janet Gent Parker, Seminary
  • Missouri – Alfred Brandt, Linn
  • Nebraska – David W. Hamilton, Thedford; and Becky Potmesil, Alliance
  • New Mexico – Boe C. Lopez, Springer
  • North Carolina – Brian D. Warren, Newton Grove
  • Oklahoma – Angie Meyer, Okarche
  • South Dakota – VeaBea Thomas, Harrold; and Laurie Johnson, South Shore
  • Tennessee – Kristina Oldfield McKee, Lebanon
  • Texas – Wesley Ratcliff, Oakwood; Ernie A. Morales, Devine; Bilynn Johnson, Happy; and David Henderson, Tennessee Colony
  • Utah – John Y. Ferry, Corinne
  • Wisconsin – Arin Crooks, Lancaster; and Tammy Wiedenbeck, Lancaster
  • Wyoming – Gwen Geis, Gillette
  • Mid-Atlantic Unit – Creed Ward, Volga, West Virginia
  • Northeast Unit – Warren W. Nop, Middlebury, Vermont
  • Southwest Unit – Kristin A. McQueary, Elko, Nevada; Brandon VanderPoel, Visalia, California; and Cortney Blasingame-Lawrence, Woodlake, California
  • Importer Unit – Stephen Sothmann, Washington, DC; Jason Frost, Washington, DC; and Steven D. Hobbs, Great Falls, Montana

Each CBB member is appointed by the secretary of agriculture from nominations submitted by certified nominating organizations. The nominating organizations represent beef and dairy producers in each state or region. Thirty-four states have individual members serving on the board, while the remainder of states are divided into three regions. Importer appointments are drawn from nominations by importer associations.

The total number of CBB members is established according to the number of cattle in the state or region. The first board member per state is appointed per 500,000 head, with each additional 1 million head of cattle establishing an additional board member. Importer numbers are established in the same manner, according to the CBB’s website.

More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cattlemen’s Beef Board webpage.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.

To learn more about the beef checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and safety, visit DrivingDemandForBeef.com.