Gerard (l) and Owen

DALLAS, TX - Two USA Rice member organizations elected officers during annual business meetings here last week.  Blake Gerard, a rice farmer from Cape Girardeau, MO, is the incoming chairman for the USA Rice Producers' Group, the national association representing U.S. rice farmers.  Joe Mencer, a rice farmer from Lake Village, AR, was elected vice chairman.  Both will serve a two-year term starting August 1.  On behalf of the association's members, Gerard thanked Louisiana rice farmer John Owen, who has chaired the organization since 2013, for his dedicated service and leadership. 

Zaunbrecher (l) and Doherty

The USA Rice Council also elected officers for the 2015-2017 term.  Rice farmer Sean Doherty from Dunnigan, CA, was elected chairman, along with four farmers who will serve as vice chairs:  Byron Holmes, Forrest City, AR; Josh Sheppard, Biggs, CA; Eric Unkel, Kinder, LA; and Curtis Berry, Robinsonville, MS.  Carl Brothers with Riceland Foods, Stuttgart, AR, was elected secretary, and James Warshaw with Farmers Rice Milling Company, Lake Charles, LA, was elected treasurer.  Chairman-elect Doherty expressed the Council's appreciation to Fred Zaunbrecher, a Louisiana rice farmer, for his outstanding service as chairman the past two years. 

"The hard work of John Owen and Fred Zaunbrecher in their respective organizations has benefited rice farmers in all states and our entire industry," said USA Rice Chairman Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer.  "I want to add my appreciation for their exceptional leadership and commitment and I look forward to working with their successors, who also will be great assets to their organizations and USA Rice as a whole."

Contact: Trish Alderson (703) 236-1472

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