2018 Commodities Conference, Annual Meeting and Board Elections

The N.C. Commodities Conference was held last week, which includes the annual meeting of the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association. The meeting is always a great chance to network with fellow farmers, hear results from the latest soybean research and learn about best practices from a variety of presenters. The 2018 meeting was no exception and the association was glad to see so many soybean growers stop by our booth.One of the main pieces of business for the board at the conference is to elect new board members. This year, seven new members were elected to serve a three-year term on the board and five members were elected to serve a second term.Directors are responsible for overseeing the soybean checkoff-funded research, marketing and communications work of the association, as well as conducting advocacy work on behalf of the state’s soybean industry.Newly elected board members are:Reggie Baker of Monroe, N.C., representing Gaston, Mecklenburg and Union countiesAngela Berben of Pantego, N.C., representing Bertie, Chowan, Dare, Tyrell and Washington countiesAndy Bland of Dover, N.C, representing Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender countiesRay Bullard of Stedman, N.C., representing Cumberland and Harnett countiesAaron Kirk of Hillsborough, N.C., representing Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Forsyth, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Rockingham and Stokes countiesTrey Liverman of Columbia, N.C., representing Bertie, Chowan, Dare, Tyrell and Washington countiesKevin Matthews of East Bend, N.C., representing Alleghany, Ashe, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Surry, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey countiesThe following directors were elected to serve a second term:Sydney Edwards Dunn of Edenton, N.C., representing Johnston countyGreg Manning of Nashville, N.C., representing Edgecombe, Halifax and Nash countiesPhilip Sloop of Mt. Ulla, N.C., representing Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Davidson, Iredell, Lincoln, Randolph and Rowan countiesJason Starnes of Salisbury, N.C., representing Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Davidson, Iredell, Lincoln, Randolph and Rowan countiesReggie Strickland of Mt. Olive, N.C., representing Duplin countyNCSPA Board of Directors elected the following officers for 2018:  President, John Fleming of Scotland Neck, N.C.; Vice President, Jeff Tyson of Nashville, N.C.; Secretary, David Heath of Dover, N.C. and Treasurer, Jeff Peed of Aurora, N.C.