December 22, 2011
LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointment of one member and the reappointment of four members to the Michigan Asparagus Marketing Advisory Board, which develops and implements asparagus marketing programs.
"These individuals will serve the board well with their deep backgrounds and expertise in the agriculture industry," Snyder said.
Appointed:
Ryan Walsworth, of Mears, is the owner of Golden Stock Farms and has been farming for 18 years. He has a total of 850 acres consisting of asparagus, corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and alfalfa. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Michigan State University. Walsworth will represent growers-at-large and replaces Gerald Malburg.
Reappointed:
Harold Goodell, of Dowagiac, is the owner and operator of Goodell Farms. He has been farming for 49 years and has 250 acres of asparagus, apples and cherries. Goodell earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. He will represent Southwest Michigan growers.
Kenneth Oomen, of Hart, is the owner of Oomen Brothers Inc. He has been farming for 29 years and has 1,300 acres of asparagus, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, corn, wheat, rye, libby squash, cherries, and Christmas trees. He also breeds 12,000 hogs each year and the farm contains a hog finishing facility and a processing plant. Oomen will represent growers-at-large.
Thomas Oomen, of Hart, is the owner and president of Oomen Farms Ltd., Inc. He has been farming for 38 years and has 1,953 acres of asparagus, cherries, Christmas trees, zucchini, carrots, asparagus, rootstock, broccoli, winter squash, corn, and grain. He also breeds 10,000 hogs each year. Oomen co-owns the Michigan Freeze Pack processing facility. He will represent growers-at-large.
Victor Shank, of Dowagiac, is the president of Central Produce Sales, which negotiates contracts for processing agricultural crops. He has been farming for 26 years and has 2,550 acres of asparagus, apples, cherries, snap beans, and squash. Shank will represent Southwest Michigan growers.
Appointees will serve three-year terms expiring Nov. 13, 2014, and are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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