WASHINGTON – Three new members were recently appointed to the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center (NSIIC) board of directors by US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. They will serve a three-year term starting in January 2015.

 Representing sheep and goat producers, new appointees include Linda Campbell of Luray, Va., and Laurie Hubbard of Huntington Mills, Pa. Appointed to the board representing expertise in marketing is Cody Heimke of Stroughton, Wis.

The NSIIC was established as part of the 2008 Farm Bill and is designed to improve the competitiveness of the US sheep and goat industries. The board is made up of seven voting members and two non-voting members. Voting members of the board include four members who are active producers of sheep or goats in the United States, two members that have expertise in finance and management, and one member that has expertise in lamb, wool, goat, or goat product marketing. Non-voting members include USDA's Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight of the Center.