(NAFB) – The National Pork Producers Council Wednesday announced Bryan Humphreys as the organization’s new chief executive officer.

Humphreys will take the position on December 21, following the retirement of Neil Dierks. NPPC says Humphreys brings years of experience in the pork industry, including as a former NPPC employee, state association executive and National Pork Board senior vice president, and outside the industry as a campaign operative, lobbyist and business owner.

Humphreys says, “I look forward to working alongside producers, stakeholders, state associations and the entire team at NPPC to make a lasting impact for farmers across the country.”

Humphreys is originally from Columbus Junction, Iowa, where he grew up on his family farm. The announcement comes as NPPC members are pressing Congress on preventing foreign animal diseases, addressing labor shortages, and reauthorizing a livestock price reporting law.

NPPC is hosting its Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C., this week, meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.