Jeanette Merritt has been hired as the Director of Checkoff Programs for Indiana Pork. Merritt is a 4th generation hog and grain farmer in Miami County. She is a graduate of Purdue University, with her Bachelor’s degree is Agricultural Sales and Marketing, with a speciality in Commodity Marketing. She and her husband, Rusty, have been married 20 years and are the parents of Alexandra, age 11; Lauryn, age 9; and Levi, age 5. She and Rusty have farmed with Jeanette’s family since their graduation from Purdue.
Jeanette has served Indiana agriculture in various capacities during her career. She spent 8 years as a farm broadcaster for a leading farm radio network and most recently, the past 11 years she served as the Marketing Director for the Indiana Wine industry. She has written columns in Indiana AgriNews and produced reports for farm television outlets. Jeanette also owns her own public relations companies and serves as a public speaker to educate about agriculture in many different settings.
She has or currently serves on numerous boards of directors including the Indiana Grown Commission, Indiana Farm Bureau Young Farmer State Committee, Dig-IN, Indiana Artisan, Miami County Helping Hands and Miami County 4-H Council. She is active in her church as a Sunday School teacher and enjoys watching her kids participate in 4-H, play sports and other school activities.
“I am excited to come to Indiana Pork to serve our producers across the state. As a lifelong pork producer myself, I value the checkoff and I look forward to promoting Indiana’s livestock producers,” said Merritt.
In her position at Indiana Pork, Merritt will oversee and manage the checkoff budget, serve as the primary media contact for the association and work as the liaison to National Pork Board.
“We are pleased to have Jeanette join our team. Her enthusiasm and experience will serve our producers well,” said Josh Trenary, executive director of Indiana Pork.
Merritt will begin work on January 4, 2016.