Changing of the Guard at USA Rice Annual Business Meeting

DALLAS, TX – All four USA Rice member organizations announced their newly-elected officers during annual business meetings here this week.  Joe Mencer, a rice farmer from Lake Village, AR, is the incoming chairman for the USA Rice Farmers, the national association representing U.S. rice farmers.  Nicole Van Vleck, of Yuba City, CA, was elected vice chairman.  On behalf of the association’s members, Mencer thanked Missouri rice farmer Blake Gerard, who has chaired the organization since 2015, for his dedicated service and leadership.  

Rice farmer Marvin Cochran from Avon, MS, was elected chairman of the USA Rice Council, along with four farmers who will serve as vice chairs for the 2017-2019 term:  Byron Holmes, Forrest City, AR; Kirk Satterfield, Benoit, MS; Josh Sheppard, Biggs, CA; and Eric Unkel, Kinder, LA.  Keith Gray, with Riviana Foods, was elected secretary, and Carl Brothers, with Riceland Foods, was elected treasurer.  Chairman-elect Cochran expressed the Council’s appreciation to Sean Doherty, a California rice farmer, for his outstanding service as chairman the past two years.  

The USA Rice Merchants’ Association new slate of officers includes Chairman Dick Ottis, Vice Chairman Ryan Carwell, and Secretary/Treasurer Park Eldridge.  The Merchants’ also announced members of their newly-elected Board of Directors:  David Bertrand, Elton, LA; Bill Dunklin, McGehee, AR; Brian King, Wynne, AR; and Marley Oldham, Mer Rouge, LA.

At their annual conference last month, the USA Rice Millers’ Association (RMA) announced the election of Alex Balafoutis, Vice President of Sales for the Rice Business Unit at PGP International in Woodland, California, and Keith Gray, Vice President of Supply Chain at Riviana Foods, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.  Chairman-elect Balafoutis presented outgoing RMA Chairman Robbie Trahan with a plaque to commemorate his tenure.  

“The hard work of the outgoing chairmen in their respective organizations has benefited rice farmers in all states and our entire industry,” said USA Rice Chairman Brian King, an Arkansas rice merchant.  “I want to add my appreciation for their exceptional leadership and commitment and I look forward to working with their successors who will begin two-year terms on August 1, 2017.”