The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has appointed former Rep. Rodney Davis head of government affairs. Davis was a five-term Republican congressman from Illinois’ 13th District, which included stints on the House Agriculture and Administration committees and serving as deputy GOP whip.
The American Egg Board announced new hires. Bill Winkelman was added as vice president of industry affairs and engagement. He was recently executive director of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence and CFO at the National Pork Board. Nick Jones was named director of international marketing. Jones was CEO of Berkwood Farms, a coalition of more than 100 farmers. Erica Mirth was named manager of content and design. She was Jackie O’s Brewery's head of design, branding, packaging and advertising material.
Grace Hasler joined the National Corn Growers Association as manager of grassroots advocacy and leadership programs. She has completed a BASF professional development program with rotations in public
Josie Montoney-Crawford, CropLife America and government affairs, fungicide marketing and market management. At Purdue University, she was a White House Intern and on the Agriculture Future of America Student Advisory Team.
The CropLife America government relations team added two new staff and promoted Brian Glenn to senior manager of federal government relations. Josie Montoney-Crawford is leaving the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to be a second senior manager of government relations at CLA. She is returning to the trade association after working there before joining NASDA. CLA is also adding Stephanie Pizzoferrato as director of state government relations focused on the eastern half of the country. She previously worked at Lanxess, Covestro and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.
Shannon Gleave was named 2024-2025 president of the School Nutrition Association. She is currently the Glendale Elementary School District’s director of food and nutrition in Arizona.
The U.S. Grains Council promoted Carlos Suarez to director of global sustainability, a new role leading efforts to integrate environmental stewardship practices in farming. He joined the council in 2019 as regional ethanol specialist in Latin America. Stephanie Larson joined the council as regional ethanol manager for the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada. Emma Dostal has been added as communications coordinator. She is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska.
Carlos Suarez, U.S. Grains CouncilMark Lehenbauer was elected chair of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. A fourth generation soybean, corn, wheat and cattle farmer, Lehenbauer previously was vice chairman. Kevin Mainord, Justin Rone and Chris Mallett were elected vice chairman, secretary-treasurer and board member, respectively.
Ten college students were selected to participate in the American Soybean Association’s Ag Voices of the Future program during the ASA summer board meeting and Soy Issues Forum. Those chosen include: Leon Aldridge, Alabama A&M; Wyatt Anderson, Iowa State; Allyson Aves, Iowa State; Makenna Garrett, Oklahoma State; Kyra Meister, Purdue; Peter Metivier, Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Clayton Moore, Idaho; Zy Polk, Alcorn State; Harrison Sachs, Cornell, and Rachel Swinford, Oklahoma State.
Alejandro Plastina was named director of the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri, effective Sept.1. He was an extension economist at Iowa State and senior fellow at the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. He specializes in agricultural production and technology, emphasizing farm business and financial management.
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization appointed Sylvia Wulf as interim lead of its Agriculture and Environment Center of Excellence. Wulf had been president and CEO of AquaBounty Technologies, where she led commercialization of AquaAdvantage salmon, the world's first genetically engineered animal approved for food.
Barry Anderson started a new role as commercial agronomist at Pivot Bio. He will work with sales representatives and growers in north central Iowa.
Case New Holland named Ryan Schaefer as vice president of its North America division. He comes with 20 years of experience in the ag equipment industry, including various roles at CNH since 2008. Most recently, he led the North America Quality organization for three years. 
Ryan Schaefer, Case New Holland
Katelyn Taylor joined the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council as a communications specialist. A recent graduate of Penn State, Taylor will focus on consumer promotion efforts and producer engagement.
Judd Stevens was appointed vice president of operations for Cal-Maine Foods, responsible for operations in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and South Carolina. Stevens has been with Cal-Maine since 2003, recently as general manager of its Wharton County Foods operation in Boling, Texas.
Novus added Adam Banaszak to staff as director of global channel management. He was previously at Trouw Nutrition, where he worked on the company's export business in the Asia Pacific.
Josh Jackson was promoted to chief of staff in the office of Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb. He has worked for Smith since 2008, recently as deputy chief of staff and legislative director.
Randal Giroux joined Reser’s Fine Foods as vice president of food safety, quality and regulatory affairs. He spent the past 23 years with Cargill in food safety and regulatory roles.
AMVAC: An American Vanguard Company promoted Micah Scanga to western business regional manager based in Wenatchee, Washington. He has been at AMVAC since 2020.
Dan White of Irving, Illinois, was elected to the Growmark board of directors for a three-year term. He has been on Growmark FS boards for 33 years and is now president of the M&M Service Co. board.
Dan White, Growmark Board of DirectorsTaniell Nirvana Liepner was promoted to business development manager at Biome Makers Inc. Before joining the company last year, she worked at PreciGenome, Costal Sun Farm, MarieChem Inc. and founded her own company in South Africa, Clean Green Health.
Victoria Pryor Bloom joined the National Association of Manufacturers as chief economist. The long-time Hill staffer was at the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee supporting ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas. She has also worked for Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., and Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga. Bloom is the fifth former GOP congressional staffer NAM has hired this year, bringing to 19 the number of former GOP congressional staffers at NAM.
Lance Watson joined the Florida Farm Bureau as director of national legislative affairs. He has worked for Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Tucker Williamson was promoted to legislative assistant for Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla. He will focus on natural resources, public lands, agriculture, food, tribal and animal issues.
The Poultry Science Association awarded David Wicker its Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award. Wicker is vice president of live operations at Fieldale Farms and has been a professor at Clemson. 
Dr. Sami Dridi, 2024 NCC Broiler Research Award recipient
The National Chicken Council has given Sami Dridi its 2024 NCC Broiler Research Award. At the University of Arkansas since 2013, Dridi focuses on molecular genetics at its Poultry Science Department to improve poultry feed efficiency and well-being and enhance poultry sustainability.
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