Vilsack announces soybean board appointments
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last month announced the appointment of 17 members and one alternate member to the United Soybean Board (USB). All appointees will serve three-year terms beginning immediately.

The appointments are: F.H. Lyons Jr., Arkansas; Mark Detweiler, Georgia; David P. Hartke, Illinois; Karen Fear, Indiana; Laura L. Foell, Iowa; Dennis R. Clark, Kentucky; Raymond S. Schexnayder, Jr., Louisiana; James A. Call, Minnesota; Todd Gibson, Missouri; Mark A. Caspers, Nebraska; Earl B. Hendrix, North Carolina; Vanessa A. Kummer, North Dakota; John B. Motter, Ohio; Jim Musser, Pennsylvania; Stanley R. Hanson, South Dakota; Wade A. Cowan, Texas; and R. Bruce Johnson, Virginia.

Georgia resident Walter L. Godwin, was appointed as an alternate member. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight of the board.

Michigan Soybean announces Spike as new director
FRANKENMUTH, Mich. — At the Michigan Soybean Assoc. (MSA) annual meeting in December, Bill Spike from Owosso was elected as an at-large director. His position represents statewide broad planning and policymaking decisions for Michigan soybean growers.
Spike has been a director of the Farm Bureau Board in Shiawassee County, a district board member for Michigan Farm Bureau, director of Old Kent Bank for 22 years and Chairman of the Shiawassee County 4-H Dairy Barn Fund.

He is also owner and operator of Spike Farms, a second-generation 1,000-acre, cash crop and former dairy farm in Shiawassee and Saginaw counties, and a licensed real estate broker and President of MI-LAND Reality, working primarily in farmland and rural housing. He received his B.S. degree in dairy production at Michigan State University in 1965.

MSU names Health and Nutrition Institute director
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University extension has named Dawn A. Contreras, Ph.D. as director of its new Institute for Improving the Health and Nutrition of Michigan Residents. The job is effective July 1.

The new institute is one of four that have emerged from MSUE’s statewide restructuring. The search for two other institute directors continues. In her new role, Contreras will be responsible for directing education efforts in several MSUE focus areas, including building healthy communities, chronic disease management and prevention, healthy eating and physical activity and promoting social and emotional well-being across the lifespan.

Currently, Contreras is coordinator for the Family Resiliency and Human Development team with MSU’s Children, Youth, Families and Communities (CYFC) unit. She is also an adjunct faculty member and assistant professor with MSU’s Department of Family and Child Ecology within the College of Social Science.

Contreras earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU. She also earned her Ph.D. in family studies there.

Ice Miller agribusiness pro named to ‘Forty Under 40’
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Ice Miller LLP is pleased to announce that Beth Bechdol, director of agribusiness strategies at the firm, has been named to the 2010 Indianapolis Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” list.

The list recognizes local business and professional leaders who have achieved success and excelled in their field before the age of 40. Those honored have demonstrated leadership, initiative and dedication in pursuing their careers, and are likely to continue to achieve in the future.

Bechdol’s introduction to agriculture began at an early age on a corn and soybean farm in Auburn, Ind. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, she returned and completed a master’s degree at Purdue University in agricultural economics.

Prior to joining Ice Miller, Bechdol served as the deputy director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) where she had an integral role in establishing the agency and crafting the strategic plan for Indiana agriculture. She was directly involved in ISDA’s international trade and investment activities.

She also served in key roles at the USDA and on the Senate Agriculture Committee under Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar.
Carhartt, Cintas launch contest to celebrate partnership
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Carhartt and Cintas have launched its search for North America’s toughest workers. The “Are You Carhartt Tough?” Contest is being conducted in conjunction with the rollout of a new product line being offered by the two companies.

Cintas Corp., North America’s largest uniform supplier, has partnered with Carhartt, a global manufacturer of premium work wear, to offer Carhartt garments for the first time in a Uniform Rental Program.

With Ducks Unlimited as media sponsor, contest organizers will reach out to the American workforce to identify people who are strong, dependable, resilient and rugged. Beginning April 30, three finalists will be announced each quarter. After a year’s time, all 12 finalists will be featured on the contest website, where the public will be encouraged to cast votes for the toughest of the tough.

Two Grand Prize winners will receive either a weekend duck hunt trip designed by Ducks Unlimited or a trip to The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series in 2011. Contestants may register by visiting www.CarharttRental.com where they can submit a short essay and photograph.

Christian appointed for term on NPECA board of directors

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Dan Christian, GROWMARK manager, electronic payment systems, was appointed to serve a three-year term on the National Petroleum Energy Credit Assoc. (NPECA) board of directors.

NPECA represents approximately 300 regular members and 100 companies in the petroleum energy industry throughout the United States, meeting petroleum and energy credit professional accredited educational and networking needs.

Staton wins Excellence in Soybean Award

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. — Mike Staton, of Michigan State University extension, was awarded the Excellence in Soybean 2010 Program Coordination Award at the Soybean 2010 meeting last month. It was presented by the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee (MSPC).

Staton is an extension agriculture educator in Allegan County. He has received numerous honors/awards during his career, including receiving Senior Extension Educator status in 2009, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award in 2008 and the USDA Certificate of Appreciation for educational activities on the 2002 farm bill.

Staton earned his Master of Science in crop and soil sciences from MSU in 1988. Following graduation, he began working for the MSUE in Gratiot County as an agricultural agent.