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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, June 23, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:
Larry Stearns, Executive Director
605.773.3324
SD Brand Board Announces Chief
Brand Inspector
(Pierre, SD)---The SD Brand Board
selected Wray Shouldis as the new Chief Inspector to
head the Brand Board Brand Inspection Program beginning
July 1, 2008. Shouldis, currently a full-time brand
inspector, is from White River, South Dakota and has
been inspecting livestock for 7 years.
The Chief Inspector will administer
the inspection program and will supervise the brand
inspectors who work with the program. In addition, the
Chief will implement policy pertaining to brand
inspection and will work to ensure that everyone in the
industry has a good understanding of the brand
inspection laws and administrative rules pertaining to
livestock inspected in the South Dakota Ownership
Inspection area. The Board welcomes Wray Shouldis into
the program.
The Brand Board decided in a
meeting in early June, after negotiations with the
current contractor failed to result in a new agreement,
that it would assume the brand inspection
responsibilities on July 1. The Board has received a
good response from the current brand inspectors who have
all been offered their current inspection position as
Board employees. The Board will advertise for new
inspectors to fill in those areas where there may be a
shortage of inspectors.
The Board’s goal is to provide the
livestock producer a seamless transition from the
existing contractor administered program to a Brand
Board administered one. The inspection portion of the
program will not experience any changes. As the program
develops there will be opportunities to make adjustments
to provide an efficient, effective, consistent program
for the livestock producers. Housing the program in one
office provides for efficiencies in communications that
would not be attainable under the current structure.
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