Food industry leaders hold meeting at FAPC
By Mandy Gross
FAPC Communications Services Manager
(Stillwater, Okla. – June 13, 2011) The Industry Advisory Committee of Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center met June 2, 2011, at the FAPC to discuss food and agricultural issues.
“The Industry Advisory Committee offers counsel, makes decisions and takes leadership action to ensure the FAPC makes sound short- and long-term plans to accomplish its mission and objectives,” said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director.
David Howard, chair of the committee and president and owner of Unitherm Food Systems in Bristow, Okla., presided over the meeting.
“The committee meetings give us an opportunity to discuss important issues and challenges facing the FAPC,” Howard said. “The meetings are vital in order to keep us informed, so we are able to provide the necessary leadership.”
During the meeting, committee members had the opportunity to converse with Jim Reese, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, and Bob Sternberg, OSU provost.
Also, the committee heard project updates about equipment, food safety, food processing, media and communications, and training and education from FAPC faculty and staff, and company presentations from Barbara Crain of Wagon Creek Creamery in Helena, Okla., and Suan Grant of Suan Foods in Oklahoma City.
In addition to Howard, members of the committee include Paul Schatte, Head Country Food Products; Jill Stichler, Redland Juice Co.; John Williams, Chef’s Requested Foods; John Griffin, Griffin Foods; Danny Dupree, Bar-S Foods Co.; Bill Wiley, BC Solutions; Tommy Kramer, Durant Economic Development Authority; Gary Crane, Ralph’s Packing Co.; Rodger Kerr, Southwest Technology Center; David McLaughlin, AdvancePierre Foods; Gary Conkling, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill; Virgil Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms; Dick Davis, retired administrator of the Agri-Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections; and Allen Mills, Reasor’s Inc.
“The FAPC has the privilege of oversight by this committee of Oklahoma agricultural and business leaders, appointed by the highest positions of Oklahoma state government,” Escoubas said.
“Through the visionary leadership of certain state representatives and senators, such as Sens. Bruce Price, Paul Muegge and the late Bob Kerr and Rep. M.C. Leist, State Statute 2-5-60 was established in 1997 to provide an advisory committee for the FAPC,” Escoubas said.
The governor, the speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate each appoint four members to the FAPC Industry Advisory Committee. The vice president, dean and director of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources serves as a non-voting member and also appoints three members to the committee.
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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research, and outreach. OSU has more than 35,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 23,000 on its Stillwater campus, with students from all 50 states and 118 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 235,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.
