The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has certified three nominees that are eligible for election to the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board’s board of directors.
Nine producers in nine districts across the state make up the board. The board oversees the collection and use of approximately $1.5 million in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin corn growers. This funding supports the corn industry through research, education and promotion of Wisconsin-grown corn.
Corn producers in affected districts will have until Jan. 10 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
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 Dec. 16 should request a ballot by emailing [email protected].
Sign and send ballots to: WI DATCP, Marketing Order Program, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708. Postmark on or before Jan. 10.
DATCP will announce the results in January. Elected growers will serve three-year terms beginning Feb. 1.