Date: 3/28/2012

Title: Hats Off to Federation Volunteer Leaders

DENVER - The annual cattle industry convention always brings a changing of the guard among some Federation leadership positions. In Nashville, the Federation welcomed new officers, as well as some new regional vice presidents and Federation members who will serve a one-year term on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC).

The 2012-13 Federation chair is Craig Uden, a cow-calf producer and feeder from Elwood, Neb. He served as vice chair last year. Richard Gebhart, a cattleman from Rogers County, Okla., is the new Federation vice chair.

Newly elected to represent the Federation as regional vice presidents on the NCBA executive committee are: Garry Wiley, Mich., Region I; Clay Burtrum, Okla., Region IV; and Sid Viebrock, Wash., Region V. They join the existing RVPs: Jennifer Houston, Tenn., Region II; Terri Carstensen, Iowa, Region III; Jane Frost, N.M., Region VI; and Becky Walth, S.D., Region VII. Richard Ayers, a veal producer from Argyle, N.Y., replaces Ray Krones, Indiana, as the Federation’s veal representative to the executive committee. Dawn Caldwell replaces Bill Rhea as a Nebraska Revenue Seat.

The Federation approved eight of its 10 representatives to the BPOC, which decides the final national checkoff program plan each year. As Federation chair and vice chair, who are standing BPOC members, Uden and Gebhart will serve, as well as Federation representatives Jerry Bohn, Kan.; Jerry Effertz, N.D.; Steve Hanson, Neb.; Cevin Jones, Idaho; Irv Petsch, Wyo.; Linda Joy Stovall, Texas; Sid Viebrock, Wash.; and Becky Walth, S.D.