Texas Pecan Board schedules election for three at-large members September 1.
The Texas Pecan Board will hold elections September 1, 2020, to elect three (3) board members. The Board was established in 1988 after pecan growers throughout Texas voted into effect a one-half-cent-per-pound pecan assessment to provide funds for promotion, education and research.
Nine (9) pecan producers serve on the Texas Pecan Board. Board members whose terms will expire in 2020 are: Glenn Honaker of Ft. Stockton, Tami Sorrells of Comanche, and Lance Lampman of De Leon.
Nomination forms for candidates who wish to have their names placed on the ballot may be obtained from Bob Whitney, Executive Director, Texas Pecan Board, 201 S. Houston St., De Leon, Texas 76444 or bob@texaspecanboard.com and your local county extension office. Nomination forms will be available after May 1, 2020, and must be filed with the TPB Executive Director no later than July 15, 2020.
Any eligible voter-producer may place his or her name in nomination to serve as a member on the Texas Pecan Board. Nomination forms must be signed by the applicant and by at least ten (10) other eligible voters-producers. Eligible voters are those pecan producers in Texas who are subject to the one-half-cent-per-pound pecan assessment; i.e. pecan producers with at least 500 trees on a minimum of 15 acres.
Ballots containing the names of all persons who have validly filed petitions will be available from the TPB Executive Director on August 1, 2020. Ballots will be mailed to all known, eligible voters in Texas on August 1, 2020, and to Extension offices in Pecan counties. Voting will be held by mail. Ballots must be postmarked no later than September 1, 2020, in order to be counted. This election is required by Chapter 41 of the Texas Agriculture Code.
The ballots will be counted in early September and results announced shortly thereafter.
The pecan assessment went into effect in September 1998. All pecan producers with at least 500 tress on a minimum of 15 acres are required, under the Texas Commodity Referendum Law, to pay the one-half-cent-per-pound pecan assessment. The assessment, which is refundable, is to be collected by the first handler and submitted to the Texas Pecan Board. Pecan assessments are used to fund promotion,education and research of pecans for pecan growers. The Texas Pecan Board programs help to provide security, stability and research for the continued benefit of pecan farmers and the pecan industry.
For more information on the TPB election or the pecan assessment program, contact Bob Whitney, Executive Director, Texas Pecan Board, 201 S. Houston, St., De Leon, Texas 76444 or bob@texaspecanboard.com or visit the TPB website at <www.texaspecanboard.com>.