NWSAC Members Appointed

June 25, 2004 -- Late last week, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the appointment of 20 members to serve on the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee (NWSAC). Committee members are appointed to serve two-year terms and can serve up to three consecutive terms. Eleven new members were appointed with nine re-appointments being announced.

NWSAC members advise the agriculture secretary on USDA?s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services? (APHIS) Wildlife Services program activities and policies. APHIS is responsible for managing wildlife conflicts, preventing wildlife damage to agriculture and protecting communities from wildlife threats.

Last September, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) made recommendations to appoint or re-appoint members to this advisory committee.

ASI recommended or supported the following four producers from across the country who have been given the opportunity to serve on this committee. They are: Nina Baucus, a Montana rancher; Dr. Maurice Shelton, a Texas rancher and Texas A&M educator; Patti Strand, current president of the National Animal Interest Alliance from Oregon; and Joseph Harper, a West Virginia sheep producer.

?ASI is proud to recommend and support these committee members who will be working with the Wildlife Services Agency -- one of the most crucial programs in the federal government for sheep producers,? said ASI President Guy Flora. ?I would also like to commend the services of Rochelle Oxarango of Idaho, Deloyd Satterthwaite of Nevada and John Baucus of Montana for representing ASI as members on this committee during the last term.?

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