February 6, 2007
For More Information Contact:
Peter Orwick (303) 771-3500, ext. 33, or porwick@sheepusa.org
Judy Malone (303) 771-3500, ext. 35, or judym@sheepusa.org Denver, Colo. - February 6, 2007 - Burdell Johnson of Tuttle, N.D., was elected president of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) at the 2007 ASI/National Lamb Feeders Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 27, 2007.
Johnson is a fourth-generation lamb and wool producer who raises Columbia and Hampshire ewes and feeds sheep through the family business, Diamond J Livestock. He also raises cattle and grows several crops, including wheat, corn, barley, oats and sunflowers.
He is a former ASI Executive Board representative for Region IV, which is comprised of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota. He has also served on numerous ASI committees including resolutions, predator management, nominating, strategic planning, 2002 and goat. He served as co-chair of ASI's Legislative Action Council and currently chairs the Industry Task Force Committee.
Johnson has been recognized for his involvement in agriculture for which he has earned three awards - the 1996 North Dakota State University Outstanding Agriculture Award, the 1999 State Friend of Extension and the 1999 Conservation Farm Award. He is a past chairman of the North Dakota Ag Coalition and has served on the North Dakota State Board of Ag Research and Extension. He currently is president of the North Dakota School Board Association and serves on the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund.
Johnson and his wife, Theo, have three children: daughter, Keri (husband Jason Braun); daughter, Stephanie; son, Michael; and two grandchildren, Josie and Blake Braun.
Commenting on his election to the office, Johnson says, "It is a great pleasure to work with and for the great people of the American sheep industry. This is a united industry, and together, I believe we can only make it better. In the upcoming months, we will continue to work on the Farm Bill and disaster programs along with putting together the LRP-Lamb insurance programs to benefit our industry."
Other officers elected to the ASI Executive Board at the convention were Glen Fisher of Sonora, Texas, to the office of vice president and Margaret Soulen Hinson of Weiser, Idaho, to the office of secretary/treasurer.
ASI is a national trade organization supported by 44 state sheep associations, benefiting the interests of nearly 68,000 sheep producers.
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