USDA Appoints NSIIC Board

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed three members to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center's (NSIIC) board of directors. Members will serve a three-year term of office beginning January 2012.

Linda S. Campbell (Va.) and Rochelle A. Oxarango (Idaho) have been re-appointed to the board to represent sheep producers. Gregory R. Ahart (Calif.) was newly appointed to the board and will represent expertise in marketing.

NSIIC, established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill as a priority of the American Sheep Industry Association, is designed to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. sheep industry. The board is composed of seven voting and two non-voting members.

ASI nominated each of the directors appointed and greatly appreciates the volunteer service of David Johnson of Wisconsin on the inaugural board of directors to get the center up and running. Voting members include four active producers of sheep or goats in the United States, two finance and management experts and an expert in lamb, wool, goat or goat product marketing. Non-voting members include USDA's Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and the Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics.