Jim Pellman, a McClusky, ND farmer, was elected to the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) officer team at the organization’s meeting last week in Washington, D.C. USW is the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat industry and is supported by the North Dakota Wheat Commission and 16 other state wheat organizations. Along with producer funds, funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Ag Service allows USW to maintain 15 offices in key wheat markets and carry out market development activities in more than 100 countries.
The board elected Jim Pellman as Secretary-Treasurer; Clark Hamilton of Idaho, as Vice Chairman; Michael Peters of Oklahoma, as Chairman; and Rhonda Larson of Minnesota, as Past Chairperson. These farmers will begin their new leadership roles during the USW board meeting in July 2023 in Minneapolis, Minn.
“After serving as a director on the U.S. Wheat Associates board representing North Dakota, I believe in the mission of the organization,” Pellman said. “This is an ideal time for me to put my experience to work for wheat farmers beyond my county and state. I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help the organization continue building export demand in a very competitive global market.”
Pellman is currently the Vice Chairman of the ND Wheat Commission and is serving his second four-year term on the board and has served as Sheridan County representative since 2014. Jim Pellman and his wife, Candace, have two children and grow wheat, barley, canola, corn, and soybeans on the farm they started in 1990 near McClusky, N.D. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University, Pellman worked as an ag lender and county supervisor with Farmers Home Administration and then several years as a community banker.
“Jim Pellman is the fifth North Dakota wheat producer to be elected by his peers to fill this very important role in the US wheat industry; the active development of expanded export markets, creation of durable demand, and greater income opportunities for fellow producers in North Dakota and the entire country,” says Neal Fisher, NDWC Administrator. “Pellman brings a broad skill set in agriculture and wheat production to the officer team at USW and follows earlier NDWC members who served as USW officers and Chairs during the past four decades; J. Ole Sampson of Lawton, Cecil Watson of Cavalier, Alan Lee of Berthold, and Brian O’Toole of Crystal, North Dakota,” adds Fisher.
Excerpts of this press release and photo courtesy of U.S. Wheat Associates.
USW officer team from L to R: Jim Pellman, ND; Clark Hamilton, ID; Rhonda Larson, MN; Michael Peters, OK.