Names in the News
New hires, promotions, retirements
President Terry Willis retiring from Jarrett Foods
Jarrett Foods has announced the retirement of president Terry Willis.
Willis started in the fall of 2023 during the construction phase of Jarrett Foods.
Based in northeast Georgia, Jarrett Foods offers a range of high-quality products such as whole bird cutup, custom breast and thigh deboning, breast and tender hand portioning, marination and re-packing services.Read more
Patrick Wade becomes NASDA public policy director
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) announce the hiring of Patrick Wade as director of public policy, effective Nov. 12.
As director, Wade will advance the organization’s public policy advocacy with his nearly 10 years of experience in agricultural policy and government affairs. Wade will be the staff lead for NASDA’s Plant Agriculture & Pesticide Regulations and Rural Development and Financial Security Committees.Read more
AFIA adds to finance team
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) announced the addition of Andi Harizi as the group’s accountant, effective Nov. 4.
In this role, Harizi will work closely with AFIA chief financial officer Andy Timmins to support AFIA and its partner organizations, including the Institute for Feed Education & Research (IFEEDER), the Food & Agriculture Export Alliance and the Global Feed LCA Institute.
Read more
SSGA appoints new executive director
The Specialty Soya & Grains Alliance (SSGA) has named longtime association executive Randy Duckworth as the new executive director. He brings global ties to the agriculture production sector and extensive involvement in connecting producers, processors and buyers.
Duckworth has specialized in agricultural association management, international food marketing and food assistance programs. He has overseen marketing, promotion and research activities in over 75 countries and specializes in linking producers, processors, exporters and buyers or food manufacturers. He most recently served as chief executive officer of the Global Pulse Federation based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Read more
Marcondes joins Miner Institute research team
Dr. Marcos Marcondes recently joined Miner Institute in Chazy, N.Y., as a research scientist. His primary research focus will be dairy nutrition.
Marcondes comes to Miner from Washington State University, where he has been an assistant professor for nearly four years. He has his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in animal science from the Federal University of Viçosa-Brazil. He was a visiting scholar at Texas A&M University before going on to earn his doctor of science and then did a post-doctoral appointment in dairy economics at University of Florida-Gainesville.Read more
Kircher named president, CEO of National Chicken Council
The National Chicken Council’s (NCC) Board of Directors has announced Harrison Kircher as NCC President and CEO, effective January 1, 2025.
Kircher has been a member of the NCC team for the past 13 years, first joining as an intern in 2011. He has spent time as a government affairs associate, manager, director and vice president on the legislative affairs team. Promoted to senior vice president of government affairs in 2021, his primary focus has been advancing NCC’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and educating members of Congress and their staffs on a range of policy issues including agriculture, appropriations, immigration, labor, energy and international trade. Read more