USDA Announces Appointments to the National Peanut Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the appointment of 18 members to serve on the National Peanut Board. Five members and their alternates will serve two-year terms, beginning immediately until Dec. 31, 2026, and four members and their alternates will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and ending Dec. 31, 2027.

Newly appointed members and alternates serving until Dec. 31, 2026:

• Thomas, Adams, Newville, Alabama (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Josh, McCoy, Midland City, Alabama (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Perry, Jackson, Graceville, Florida (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Scott, Walker, McDavid, Florida (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Lonnie, Fortner, Port Gibson, Mississippi (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Alan, Atkins, Hamilton, Mississippi (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Raymond P., Garner Jr., Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Julie M., Ward, Clarkton, North Carolina (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Westley, Drake, Newsoms, Virginia (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Richard, Williams, Suffolk, Virginia (Alternate)<_o3a_p>

Newly appointed members and alternates serving from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2027:

• Clifford, Neece, Portales, At-Large (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Don, Sanders, Portales, At-Large (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Casey Cox, Kerr, Camilla, Georgia (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Wesley, Webb, Leary, Georgia (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Neal, Baxley, Marion, South Carolina (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Doug, Jarrell, Estill, South Carolina (Alternate)<_o3a_p>
• Jeff, Roper, Lubbock, Texas (Member)<_o3a_p>
• Mason, Becker, Brownfield, Texas (Alternate)<_o3a_p>

The National Peanut Board is comprised of 12 producer members and alternates. Eleven members and alternates are from the primary peanut producing states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. An at-large member and alternate represent the minor peanut producing states of New Mexico and Louisiana. Members can serve up to two consecutive three-year terms.<_o3a_p>

More information about the board is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Peanut Board webpage and the board's website at www.nationalpeanutboard.org.<_o3a_p>

Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 22 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.<_o3a_p>

AMS policy is that diversity of the boards, councils and committees it oversees should reflect the diversity of their industries in terms of the experience of members, methods of production and distribution, marketing strategies and other distinguishing factors, including but not limited to individuals from historically underserved communities, that will bring different perspectives and ideas to the table. Throughout the full nomination process, the industry must conduct extensive outreach, paying particular attention to reaching underserved communities, and consider the diversity of the population served and the knowledge, skills and abilities of the members to serve a diverse population.<_o3a_p>

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender<_o3a_p>