Deb Ballance, pictured with her husband Todd.
Deborah Ballance of Fremont was named to a three-year term on the National Pork Board this week, along with four other new members from across the country. North Carolina hog farmers Henry Moore and Kris Stewart rotated off the board with the announcement of the new members.
The announcement was made on Thursday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
“These appointees represent a cross section of the pork producers and I know they will help us better meet the needs of our American farmers, ranchers, and producers,” said Perdue. “Their work is important as pork production is critical to the U.S. farm sector and the American economy as a whole.”
Deborah owns and operates Legacy Farms, a farrow-to-finish hog operation near Fremont. Legacy Farms markets 115,000 hogs annually and also raises cattle, corn, soybeans and hay.
Ballance is a member of the North Carolina Pork Council. She also chairs the National Pork Board Pork, Quality, Safety and Human Nutrition committee and is a member of the Pork Quality Task Force, Common Industry Audit Task Force, the Pork Quality Assurance® Plus Task Force and a member of the Retail Advisory Committee.
With this appointment, Deborah will also become a member of the N.C. Pork Council’s board of directors.
Read more about Deb’s family farm in the Spring issue of the N.C. Pork Report.
About the National Pork Board
The National Pork Board is composed of 15 pork producers, who are nominated by the National Pork Producers Delegate Body, which is made up of approximately 160 producer and importer members.
The program was created and is administered under the authority of the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 (pdf). It became effective September 5, 1986, when the Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Order (pdf) was implemented.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards. They empower farmers and ranchers to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity for participating stakeholders.