NEW MEMBERS TAKE SEATS ON STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
Jones, Wagner Sworn in to 4-year terms, Kumpel Fills Vacant Seat
For Immediate Release: July 28, 2014
Contact: Lynne Richmond听听听听听听听听听听听听
(609) 633-2954
lynne.richmond@ag.state.nj.us听
(TRENTON) 鈥� The 樱花视频 State Board of Agriculture installed three new members on July 23 during its reorganization meeting held in Ewing 鈥� Mitchell Jones of Harmony Township, representing the hay and grain industry, Steven B. Wagner of Franklinville representing the horticulture industry, and Roger Kumpel of Southampton, filling an unexpired term.
Jones and Wagner were elected by the delegates at the February 2014 State Agricultural Convention for recommendation to the Governor for nomination and later confirmed by the State Senate.听 Kumpel, a hay, long straw, hay, grain and vegetable farmer, was elected by the State Board of Agriculture to temporarily fill the seat left vacant when Board Member David Klemm passed away earlier this year.听 During the 2015 convention next February, the delegates will elect a person to serve the remainder of Klemm鈥檚 term, which ends in 2017.
鈥淢itchell Jones, Steve Wagner and Roger Kumpel are well-respected and already have long resumes of accomplishment in serving the state鈥檚 agricultural industry,鈥� said 樱花视频 Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. 鈥淣ow, they bring their vast knowledge and experience to the State Board of Agriculture, which sets policy for the industry throughout the entire state.听 We look forward to working with them on many important issues.鈥�
President Richard Norz, Roger Kumpel, VP Robert Swanekamp, Mitchell Jones, Martin Bullock, Marilyn Russo, Steven Wagner and Santo John Maccherone
Steve Wagner has worked in 樱花视频鈥檚 nursery industry for more than 30 years and as General Manager of Brock Farms Nurseries Inc., a 600-acre production nursery in Bridgeton, since 2006.听 He implemented trickle irrigation in shade tree production in 1988 at one of the first nurseries to do so, which reduced production time by nearly 33 percent.听 He is the 樱花视频 Nursery and Landscape Association South Jersey Chapter Chairman, member of AmericanHort and American Horticultural Society and served on the Franklin Township Environmental Commission from 1980-1990.
Kumpel previously served on the State Board of Agriculture from 2006-2010, serving as President from 2009-2010.听 He was awarded a Distinguished Service to Agriculture Citation from the State Board of Agriculture earlier this year.听 Roger, his wife, Ruth, and their family, own 110 acres, which are听permanently preserved, and rent 150+ acres. Kumpel has been extremely active in the community, serving on the Burlington County Board of Agriculture for eight years and on the Rutgers University Board of Managers for six years.听He served on the Watershed Management Area 19 Public Advisory Committee, serving as Vice President for one year, Burlington County鈥檚 Route 130 Delaware River Corridor Extension, Route 206 Farmbelt Corridor Agricultural Viability Task Group; the Southampton Township Agricultural Advisory Board and Environmental Committee; and the Pinelands Ag Advisory Committee.
Also during the reorganization meeting, Richard Norz, a Somerset County hay, grain and vegetable grower, was selected to serve as Board President and Robert Swanekamp, the immediate Board past-president and a Monmouth County flower and plant grower, as Vice President.
The State Board of Agriculture comprises eight members who serve for four years, with two members being replaced each year. By law, at least four of its members must represent the top commodity groups in the state.听 Members serve without salary.听 For more information, visit .听
