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URBANDALE,
Iowa - Yvonne Wente, a soybean and corn producer from
Waverly, Iowa, was recently elected vice-chair of the Renewable
Fuels Infrastructure Board (RFIB). She was elected as vice-chair
by the RFIB board members at their first official meeting on Sept.
25. Dave Smitherman, senior partner of Dave Smitherman Consulting,
was elected chairman. The 11-member board was chosen by Governor
Tom Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson in August to oversee
the renewable fuels infrastructure funding.
Wente, the only full-time farmer on the RFIB, will assist the
chairman in working with the board to develop and administer the
process to get the funding to the appropriate projects. They will
ensure that the $13 million set aside by the Legislature for renewable
fuels infrastructure funding is spent properly and fairly. Their
next scheduled meeting is set for Oct. 31.
Wente is a former Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Soybean Promotion
Board district director. She also served as the first female chair
of the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board from 1997 to 1998. Wente has
long been a leader in agriculture, and is known for her tireless
effort as a grassroots activist for the Iowa Soybean Association
and the Iowa Corn Growers Association. She is a co-owner and operator
Wente Acres, Ltd., a soybean and corn farm, with her husband,
Paul.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to assist in
moving the renewable fuels industry forward, “ says Wente.
“I believe renewable fuels will play a vital role in Iowa’s
economic future and I’m looking forward to working with
my fellow board members to help the industry grow.”
Other Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board members are Jeff Hove,
regulatory affairs manager for Petroleum Marketers & Convenience
Stores of Iowa; Brian Wiegert, senior underwriter for Rounds &
Associates/PMMIC; Mona Bond, executive director of Agribusiness
Association; Shannon Textor, director of market development for
the Iowa Corn Growers Association; Denny Harding, business development
executive for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Brenda Neville,
vice president of the Iowa Motor Truck Association; Alan Hillgren,
general manager of the petroleum division for Seneca Companies;
Lucille Norton, managing director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels
Association; and Jill Rheams-Widder, environmental consultant
for Casey’s General Stores. |
