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Former Sorghum Checkoff Chair Verity Ulibarri was elected U.S. Grains Council board chair at the USGC annual meeting in Salt Lake City. She is the second sorghum sector representative to chair the council board in recent history. USDA promoted Carlton Bridgeforth to White House liaison.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce appointed former congressman Rodney Davis as head of government affairs. The American Egg Board announced new hires: Bill Winkelman, Nick Jones and Erica Mirth. Grace Hasler joined the National Corn Growers Association. The U.S. Grains Council promoted Carlos Suarez to the newly created role of director of global sustainability and hired Stephanie Larson and Emma Dostal.

Washington veteran Eric Steiner will join Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz’s (OFW) Government Relations’ team as a senior policy advisor. The Agriculture Department announced senior appointments and promotions across the agency, including: Cindy Long, Sean Babington, and Eric Deeble. CoBank named; Sean Burke; as chief financial officer. He will lead the cooperative bank’s finance group. Animal Health Institute president and CEO Mathews will retire at the end of 2024.

The International Fresh Produce Association appolinte Jessica Keller;as vice president of global industry relations. Filling the newly-created role, Keller is asked to grow member value globally and lead implementation of IFPA’s global portfolio. She was chief operating officer at Food Hall Co. and earlier worked at Whole Foods Market for 16 years.

The International Dairy Foods Association has announced three staff promotions Andrew Jerome to vice president of communications, Jessica Matsko to manager of executive office and special projects and Victoria Pender to manager of events and programs. The Food Research Action Center named Crystal FitzSimons as interim president, succeeding former interim president Kelly Horton who began that position in April. Syngenta hired Susan Luke former director of global issues and crisis communication for Bayer’s crop science division as a senior communications manager for Syngenta U.S. Crop Protection and corporate communications.

Every summer, the next generation of staffers, analysts, lobbyists and communications specialists comes to D.C. This is the second part of two-part series on the interns in congressional offices and farm-related organizations in Washington this summer.

The National Turkey Federation made two staff changes: Dale Nellor was selected as senior vice president of government affairs and Taya Machado joined the staff as marketing manager. David Chavern has departed as president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association. He will join the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) as the organization’s leader, succeeding Susan Neely who previously led the American Beverage Association. Three new directors were elected to serve on the Farm Foundation Board.

Each summer, a new generation of aspiring staffers, analysts, lobbyists and communications specialists floods the offices of farm-related organizations and congressional offices. While in Washington, many interns participate in the Ag Intern network – facilitated by CropLife America – to attend "lunch learn" sessions, workshops and networking events.

The United Soybean Board has announced new members of its management team, and CropLife America and Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) have made staff changes.