NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The National Farm-City Council, Inc., has elected its officers and new members to the organization’s board of directors with Gene Hemphill, New Holland, Inc., New Holland, Pa., named as 2002 chairman.

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Hemphill heads up the Council’s executive committee, which consists of: Marcia Paterson, Milton Hershey School, Hershey, Pa., as vice chair; and Marsha Purcell, American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Park Ridge, Ill., as secretary/treasurer. Walter Armbruster, Farm Foundation, Oak Brook, Ill., serves on the executive committee as immediate past chair.


Elected to two-year positions on the Council’s board of directors are: Marilyn Adams, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, Earlham, Iowa.; Lynn Henderson, Doane Agricultural Services Co., St. Louis, Mo.; Robin Kinney, Minnesota Farm-City Committee, Mapleton, Minn.; Paul Till, Alabama Farmers Federation, Montgomery, Ala.; and Chris Sigurdson, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.


Continuing board members are: Sherri Butters, Tioga County Farm-City Day, Wellsboro, Pa.; Janet Christensen, Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, Boston, Mass.; Dr. Charles Eastin, Kentucky Farm-City Council, Lexington, Ky.; Jim Ebbinghaus, Equipment Manufacturers Institute, Chicago, Ill.; Sally Oxenhandler, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Jefferson, Mo.; Gary Shafer, Harris Trust and Saving Bank, Chicago; Paul Till, Alabama Farmers Federation, Montgomery, Ala.; and Katherine Trent, Philip Morris
Management Corp., Richmond, Va. Charlie Kampa, KJJK-FM, Fergus Falls, Minn., serves as the designated member representing the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
     
Established in 1955, the role of the National Farm-City Council is to encourage understanding, increase cooperation and solidify relations between rural and urban residents. National Farm-City Week, the seven days leading up to and including Thanksgiving, is the focus of activities for the organization.

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