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The National Turkey Federation made two staff changes: Dale Nellor was selected as senior vice president of government affairs and Taya Machado joined the staff as marketing manager. David Chavern has departed as president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association. He will join the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) as the organization’s leader, succeeding Susan Neely who previously led the American Beverage Association. Three new directors were elected to serve on the Farm Foundation Board.

Each summer, a new generation of aspiring staffers, analysts, lobbyists and communications specialists floods the offices of farm-related organizations and congressional offices. While in Washington, many interns participate in the Ag Intern network – facilitated by CropLife America – to attend "lunch learn" sessions, workshops and networking events.

The United Soybean Board has announced new members of its management team, and CropLife America and Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) have made staff changes.

Stacy Dean, deputy undersecretary of agriculture for food, nutrition and consumer services, will step down from her position in July. She led the Biden administration's update of the Thrifty Food Plan and was nominated twice to be undersecretary but the Senate returned her nomination both times.

Mac Marshall has left his position as vice president of market intelligence at the United Soybean Board, and Mark Hayes has left the Farm Credit Council to become vice president of global communications at the Futures Industry Association.

Republican Rep. Vince Fong was sworn in Monday to fill the seat of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Fong won a special election in May to represent California’s 20th congressional district, including parts of Fresno, Tulare, Kern and Kings counties in the Central Valley. The district accounts for 9% of California’s annual agriculture sales and ranks 24th of all congressional districts in the value of agricultural products sold, according to 2022 Ag Census data published by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Melinda Cep has started a new role as the senior director of lands, water, and agriculture in the White House’s climate policy office and John MacDonald has been named vice president of marketing for The Giant Co.

Sheryl Wallace has been named CEO of Ardent Mills, the flour milling joint venture of ConAgra, Cargill and CHS, and the U.S. Grains Council has named Ankit Chandra as senior manager of global ethanol market development.

Gardner Hatch has been selected as the new executive director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, while the Biotechnology Innovation Organization has laid off 30 employees, including some in senior leadership positions.