Leadership changes for USA Rice Farmers (Joe Mencer to Nicole Van Vleck) and the Rice Council (Marvin Cochran to Byron Holmes)
Jul 16, 2019
IRVING, TX – At USA Rice’s July Business Meeting here last week, the USA Rice Farmers announced the appointment of Nicole Montna Van Vleck, a California rice farmer, as chair, and Kirk Satterfield, a Mississippi rice farmer, as vice chair.
Chairman-elect Van Vleck presented outgoing Farmers Chairman Joe Mencer with a plaque to commemorate his tenure.
“We have all benefited from Joe’s service and dedication to the organization over the past two years,” said Van Vleck. “Leadership is never easy and the past couple of years have been especially challenging with the new Farm Bill, upheavals in the market, and weather events that have had an impact on our individual operations.”
There also was a change in leadership for the USA Rice Council with Arkansas rice farmer Byron Holmes named the new chair. Holmes then recognized his predecessor, Mississippi rice farmer Marvin Cochran for his leadership and commitment to the industry. Cochran thanked the Council, and in particular, leaders in Mississippi who had helped prepare him and other young farmers for leadership roles in the industry.
Each new appointee will serve a two-year term that begins August 1, 2019.