Altona, IL, pork producer Jill Appell has been named by President Obama to a White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.

Appell has served in many official capacities include president of the National Pork Producers Council, president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association, state director of USDA’s Rural Development, Governor’s Livestock Industry Task Force during 1995-1998 and on the Farm Bureau’s Task Force on Women’s Role in Agriculture.

She is currently a member of the USDA Farm Service Agency Illinois State Technical Committee and the USDA Technical Advisory Committee for Trade of Animals and Animal Products.

Appell and her husband Paul run a wean-to-finish operation.

Appell was named one of 10 Masters of the Pork Industry by National Hog Farmer magazine in 2007 (See the May 15, 2007 issue).