LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sandra P. Gardner, a native of Shelby County, has been named director of commodity marketing for the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation. The appointment, effective Sept. 3, was announced by David S. Beck, federation executive vice president.
In her new position, Gardner will oversee a variety of farm marketing programs, with a focus on identifying and researching new and emerging agricultural enterprises. She will also manage Farm Bureau’s Certified Roadside Market Program, assisting the 70-plus cooperating markets with statewide promotion and marketing activities.
Gardner comes to Farm Bureau following six years as compliance and outreach specialist, market analyst and web coordinator for the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy in Frankfort, where she monitored reporting and compliance for the more than 1,500 loans, grants and cost-share programs funded by Kentucky’s Agricultural Development Fund.
Gardner is a graduate of Shelby County High School and holds a B.S. in biology with an agriculture minor from the University of Kentucky.

ISDA welcomes new staff

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announced the addition of four new staff members and the promotion of two employees.
On July 30, DeAnna Brunner joined ISDA as chief counsel and administrative officer. She will provide legal oversight concerning the department’s daily operations. Prior to ISDA, Brunner served as the deputy Attorney General in advisory and alternative dispute resolution services in the Indiana Office of the Attorney General.
Paul Wehmeier joined ISDA on Aug. 10 as the executive assistant to Indiana Agriculture Director Andy Miller and Deputy Agriculture Director Beth Bechdol. He previously served at the Indiana Department of Labor as Interim Assistant to the Commissioner.
Nathan Mueller began Aug. 20 as the new resource specialist team leader in the Northwest Region for ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation. Prior to joining ISDA, he was a teaching assistant and lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jerry Hartley joined ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation on Sept. 4 as a new district support specialist in training. Hartley has worked in the environmental arena since 2001 and was a Project Manager/Senior Project Manager with Lee & Ryan Environmental Consulting, Inc., in Indianapolis.
Shelee Padgett has been promoted to ISDA’s chief of staff and will work to provide direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning for the department. She previously served as the special assistant to the director.
Annie Schmelzer is now program manager for regional development with ISDA’s Economic Development team and previously served as special assistant to the deputy director. NAMA picks new CEO OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Effective Sept. 15, Jennifer Pickett assumed responsibilities of executive vice president/CEO of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA). NAMA describes her as an accomplished not-for-profit professional with more than 16 years of executive leadership experience and a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural industry. NAMA conducted an extensive search, which resulted in a highly-qualified pool of 70 applicants. The organization cited Pickett’s combination of skills, experience and forward-thinking ideas that made her the most convincing choice for the position. She was most recently the COO for NAMA, which included budget oversight, staff management and primary responsibility for Ag Day, NAMA Boot Camp, Best of NAMA and Membership and Careers committees. Prior to her work with NAMA, Pickett worked at an executive search firm and has advertising agency experience. Her new responsibilities will include fiscal management, overseeing office staff – which is currently responsible for operations and logistics to support membership recruitment and retention, as well as local and national programming including the Agri-Marketing Conference – Best of NAMA awards program, Agribusiness Forum and NAMA Boot Camp. Pickett will also interact with numerous volunteer committees related to these functions. Additionally, she will have the responsibility for expanding sponsorship revenues and developing relationships with agribusiness partners.

OCTA members win at Ohio State Fair FRAZEYSBURG, Ohio — Members of the Ohio Christmas Tree Assoc. (OCTA) took home honors from the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Listed below are the winners of the classes.
• Spruce: First Place, Duke Wheeler of Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm in Lucas County; Second Place, Dave Reese of Kaleidoscope Farms in Hancock County; Third Place, Feisley Family Farms of Belmont County.
• Fir: First Place, Carolyn Walsh of Walsh Christmas Tree Farm in Licking County; Second Place, Duke Wheeler of Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm in Lucas County; Third Place, Don and Kathi Albertson of The Cambridge Trading Co. in Guernsey County. • Pine: First Place, Dave Reese of Kaleidoscope Farms in Hancock County; Second Place, Duke Wheeler of Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm in Lucas County; Third Place, Feisley Family Farms of Belmont County.
Named Grand Champion was a fir tree exhibited by Carolyn Walsh of Walsh Christmas Tree Farm in Licking County.
During the fair, attendees had the opportunity to vote on their favorite tree. Winning the People’s Choice award this year was Galehouse Tree Farm of Wayne County. The trees in the competition were selected from trees submitted by growers from across the state. They were also reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of Ohio State University faculty, an extension agent and a Christmas tree grower. The primary factors in judging included shape, fullness, color and overall appearance. For further information on OCTA or its activities, contact 740-828-3331.

Mycogen seeds adds Gomes to silage team

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –– Mycogen Seeds has named Vernal Gomes as a Silage Market manager for the company’s California market. In this position, Gomes is responsible for the sales of Mycogen Seeds, specifically Silage-Specific corn hybrids.
Prior to this new role, Gomes was employed with Monsanto Dairy Business, where he held various positions, including corn seed sales representative. He also developed distributorship for the Asgrow brand corn seed company and was appointed by the USDA secretary to represent California on the National Dairy Board.
Gomes also was appointed as a founding member of the U.S. Dairy Export Board. He earned a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo.

ISA announces new executive committee

URBANDALE, Iowa — The Iowa Soybean Assoc. (ISA) Board of Directors selected president-elect Curt Sindergard of Rolfe as its new president. Sindergard replaces Ray Gaesser of Corning, who continues to serve on the ISA board.
In its annual reorganization, the board also elected these directors to its executive committee: President Elect John Heisdorffer of Keota, Treasurer Delbert Christensen of Audubon, Secretary Randy VanKooten of Lynnville and At-Large member Dean Coleman of Humboldt.