FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 15, 2023
Contact: Neal Patten, Public Information Officer, (608) 440-0294, neal.patten@wisconsin.gov
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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has certified three nominees that are eligible for election to the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board’s board of directors. Corn producers in affected districts will have until January 10, 2024 to vote on the following candidates:
District 3 Nominee: Zachary Soltvedt, Seymour
Counties: Forest, Florence, Marinette, Langlade, Oconto, Shawano, Door, Outagamie, Brown, Kewaunee, Winnebago, Calumet, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan
District 5 Nominee: Mike Berget, Darlington
Counties: La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford, Richland, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette
District 6 Nominee: Ryan Ripp, Lodi
Counties: Sauk and Dane
DATCP confirmed that all certified candidates meet the eligibility criteria of being an active corn producer who sells corn into commercial channels and residing within their respective districts. In District 5 and 6, DATCP certified each candidate's timely nomination form, which included five signatures from active corn producers within their district. District 3 had no nominees submitted within the original nomination period. Per administrative rule, the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board was allowed to nominate a producer for the election, who was also certified.
To facilitate the voting process, DATCP has distributed mail-in ballots to corn producers who reside within the three affected districts. Producers who have not received a ballot by December 16, 2023 should request a ballot by emailing DATCPMarketOrders@wisconsin.gov. Completed ballots must be signed and sent to: WI DATCP, Marketing Order Program, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708 and postmarked on or before January 10, 2024.
Election results will be announced in January 2024. Elected growers will serve three-year terms beginning February 1, 2024.
About the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board
The Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board is composed of nine producers in nine districts across the state. The board oversees the collection and use of approximately $1.5 million in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin corn growers. This funding is used to support the corn industry through research, education, and promotion of Wisconsin-grown corn.
To learn more about the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, visit wicorn.org.
DATCP administers elections for Wisconsin commodity marketing boards. To learn more about the market order boards, visit datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/MarketingBoards.aspx.
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