Local Farmers named to IFBF Advisory Committees

Nearly 140 farmers will serve on commodity advisory committees to the Iowa Farm Bureau in 2005. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Lang appointed the farmers from throughout the state to the committees to discuss issues affecting their commodities.

The committees will make recommendations to the IFBF board of directors for possible action.

The committees represent beef, dairy, field crops, hay and forage, horticulture, market education and information, poultry, sheep, swine, energy, environmental resources, and wildlife damage. The committees will hold their first meeting March 22-23 in West Des Moines during the 2005 Commodity Congress.

The following area farmers have been named to each of the following respective commitees:

• Beef - Carlton Kjos, Decorah, committee chair; and Duane Leppert, Lansing.

• Dairy - Brian Dougherty, Waukon Connie Stewart, West Union; and Phil Hemesath, Calmar, IFBF District 1 board representative.

• Field Crops - Jim Falck, Decorah.

• Hay and Forage - Sandra Ehrhardt, Monona, chair; and Bob Humpal, Fort Atkinson.

• Market Education/ Information - Paul Hunter, Decorah.

• Swine - Vincent Spain, Castalia, chair.

Five farmers are also representing Iowa on advisory committees to the American Farm Bureau Federation. They are: Carlton Kjos, beef; Dwight Hasselquist, dairy; Tom Halbur, feed grains; Jack Suiter, horticulture; Loren Bolkema, poultry; Eric Finch, sheep; Doug Sorensen, soybeans; and Vincent Spain, swine.