Joel Brandenberger Appointed National Turkey Federation President

WASHINGTON, D.C.Mike Briggs, chairman, National Turkey Federation (NTF) has announced the appointment of Joel Brandenberger as the new NTF president, effective Dec. 1. Brandenberger will implement the federations strategic plans as well as promote the interests of all NTF members in the areas of marketing, legislative affairs and regulatory issues. Brandenbergers 15 years with NTF make him an extremely qualified candidate to achieve the federations goals.

The Executive Committee and I have complete confidence in Joel leading the federation, said Briggs. Because of his years of experience with turkey industry issues in public affairs and his work with the NTF staff, Joel offers us a seamless transition.

Brandenberger currently serves as NTFs senior vice president of legislative affairs. He started with NTF in 1991 and has held the positions of director of public affairs (1991 to 1995) and vice president of legislative affairs (1996 to 2001), before being promoted to his current position.

Some legislative highlights during Brandenbergers tenure at NTF include passage of the Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996; $23 million for a low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) program in 2004, which continues to be funded; a six-fold increase in federal funding for other turkey research projects (poult enteritis mortality syndrome, avian pneumovirus, etc.); helping obtain $52 million indemnity funding for a 2002 Virginia LPAI outbreak; and pending legislation that makes it clear two industrial environmental laws do not apply to poultry and livestock operations.

Prior to joining NTF, Brandenberger was legislative director and press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bill Sarpalius (D-TX). He also served as Sarpalius press secretary during his third term in the Texas Senate and during Saraplius first congressional campaign.

Brandenberger began his career as a reporter and then agriculture editor at the Amarillo Globe-News (a regional Texas daily newspaper with a Sunday circulation of 80,000). In addition to covering agriculture news, he also covered politics and the police beat.

A 1982 Texas Tech University graduate, Brandenberger received a B.A. in journalism with a minor in management. During his college years, he served as editor of the student newspaper, The University Daily. He currently serves on Texas Techs School of Mass Communications advisory board. Brandenberger resides in Rockville, MD, with his wife, Susan.

Brandenberger will succeed Alice L. Johnson, D.V.M., who departs on Nov. 30 to become vice president, food safety, government regulatory and public relations for Butterball LLC.

About The National Turkey Federation
The National Turkey Federation is the advocate for all segments of the $8 billion U.S. turkey industry, providing services and conducting activities, which increase demand for its members products and protect and enhance the ability to effectively and profitably provide wholesome, high quality, nutritious turkey products.