The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Strategic Planning Conference wrapped up Friday, Nov. 4 with the election of new officers. Bruce Schmoll, a soybean and corn producer from Claremont, Minnesota, was elected USMEF chairman for 2016-2017. Schmoll was also featured on this week’s USMEF Audio Report, where he discusses how he came to be involved in USMEF and his goals for the organization.

“Our main customer in the corn and soybean world is the livestock industry,” Schmoll said. “I want to do everything I can as a corn and soybean farmer to help that industry improve their production and their capability of exporting red meat products.”

Listen to the full report here:
USMEF Audio Report With Bruce Schmoll

Dennis Stiffler, Ph.D., was elected the new USMEF chair-elect. Stiffler recently retired as chief executive officer of Mountain States Rosen and has 30 years of livestock, meat industry and international marketing experience.

Conley Nelson, Iowa pork producer and general manager of Smithfield Foods’ hog production division, will serve as USMEF vice chair. Nelson is also a past president of the National Pork Board and operates a farm that has been in his family for more than 120 years.

Idaho cattle feeder Cevin Jones was elected as secretary-treasurer. Along with his brother and other family members, Jones operates Intermountain Beef, a custom feedlot. He is also vice chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils, has served on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association(NCBA) board of directors, and is a past winner of the Idaho Cattle Feeder of the Year Award.

“Exporting red meat is very important for us if we want to expand as livestock producers,” Jones said. “USMEF plays a major role in identifying, opening and developing markets for U.S. red meat, so I look forward to being involved as an officer. When you see the commitment by the stakeholders, the members of USMEF, along with the staff who does such a great job of promoting our products overseas, whether it’s beef or pork or lamb, you understand what makes this a successful organization.”