SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S. — Brian O’Toole, a hard red spring (HRS) wheat farmer from Crystal, North Dakota, U.S. took the reins as chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors at the organization’s annual meeting July 12 to 15, in San Diego, California, U.S.

“I am honored to continue representing all U.S. wheat farmers overseas,” O’Toole said. “I truly believe that the work this organization does in overseas education and promotion is essential to marketing our wheat. It’s a growing world and I am excited to be a part of the mission to maintain or build demand around the world.”

O’Toole is the third generation at T.E. O’Toole Farms, a century farm, where he grows HRS wheat, along with sugar beets, pinto beans, navy beans, black beans and corn. He has been a North Dakota wheat commissioner since 2005 and has extensive experience as a leader in agriculture with current and past roles with the Wheat Marketing Center, the SBARE Wheat Granting Committee, the North Dakota Crop Improvement and Seed Association and the Crystal Farmers Elevator Co-op.

Other officers installed at the USW meeting included Jason Scott, Stevensville, Maryland, U.S., as vice-chairman and Mike Miller, Ritzville, Washington, U.S., as secretary-treasurer. Last year’s chairman Roy Motter, Brawley, California, U.S., transitioned to past chairman and chairman of the USW Budget Committee. USW officers were elected to these one-year positions at the January Winter Wheat Conference in Washington, D.C., U.S.

USW's next board meeting will be held jointly with the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, U.S. Nov. 3-6.