About PVGA
The Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association (PVGA) is an association of commercial vegetable, potato and berry growers and allied industry personnel dedicated to:
- providing educational resources and opportunities for its members
- supporting practical research,
- promoting growers and their products
- representing the interests of the Pennsylvania vegetable, potato and berry industries
- providing special services for members.
PVGA currently has about 865 members across the Commonwealth and beyond. The Association publishes its own monthly newsletter and co-sponsors the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Convention as well as Field Days, Field Tours and Twilight Meetings. Further information about these and other PVGAs activities are detailed elsewhere on the website.
The Association is governed by an eighteen-member volunteer Board of Directors who are elected by the General Membership at the Associations annual meeting. The Board of Directors in turn elects from its membership the President, two Vice Presidents and the Secretary-Treasurer, who along with the Past President comprise the Executive Committee. The Board contracts with an Executive Secretary to handle the day-to-day operations of the Association.
Policy Resolutions which set forth the position of PVGA on current issues are adopted by the General Membership at the annual meeting.
President:
Robert Amsterdam 08
Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County
First Vice President
Kenneth Martin '09
New Berlin, Union County
Second Vice President
Arthur King '10
Valencia, Butler County
Secretary-Treasurer
John Mason '08
Lake City, Erie County
Past President
Hilary Schramm, Jr. 09
Jeanette, Westmoreland County
Directors
Brian Campbell '09
Berwick, Columbia County
Keith Eckel 08
Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County
Barron Hetherington 08
Ringtown, Schuylkill County
Glenn Hetherington '09
Ringtown, Schuylkill County
Curtis Kaelin '09
Wexford, Allegheny County
Lois Klinger '10
Catawissa, Columbia County
David Miller 08
York, York County
William Reynolds '10
Waynesboro, Franklin County
Daniel Schantz 09
Zionsville, Lehigh County
Robert Shenot '10
Wexford, Allegheny County
Thomas Styer 09
Muncy, Lycoming County
Robert Trax 10
Finleyville, Washington County
Timothy Weiser '10
York Springs, Adams County
Executive Secretary
William Troxell, Troxell Administrative Services
2007 Committees
Executive
Robert Amsterdam chair, Kenneth Martin, Arthur King, John Mason, Hilary Schramm, Jr. (constitutional)
Administrative
John Mason - chair, Lois Klinger, William Reynolds, Daniel Schantz, Hilary Schramm, Timothy Weiser,
Educational
Kenneth Martin - chair, Robert Amsterdam, David Miller,
Robert Shenot, Thomas Styer, Robert Trax
Government Affairs
Arthur King, - chair, Brian Campbell, Keith Eckel, Barron Hetherington, Glenn Hetherington, Curtis Kaelin,
Nominating
Hilary Schramm, Jr. chair (constitutional), Michael Orzolek, Brian Campbell
Advisory
Michael Orzolek - chair, Barbara Christ, Kathleen Demchak, Shelby Fleischer,
Richard Marini, William Lamont, Elsa Sanchez
Vegetable
members of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Marketing and Research Program Board
Potato
members of the Pennsylvania Potato Research Program Board
Berry
Thomas Styer chair, Ronald Beinlich, Fred Dymond III, David Hartzell, Andrew Smith, John Shenk,
Simply Sweet Onion
Arthur King 08 chair, John Hunter 08, Stephen Klabnik 09, Michael Kotz 09,
Leon Martin, Michael Orzolek 09, Moses Zook 08
Convention Program Committee
Chairs: Kenneth Martin - general, Michael Orzolek - vegetable program, Kathleen Demchak - small fruit program, Jay Holcomb greenhouse ornamentals program, Robert Ambrose cut flower program, William Lamont - potato program, Kenneth Martin - processing program, John Berry and Thomas Murphy - direct marketing program
Directors: Arthur King, Lois Klinger, John Mason, David Miller, William Reynolds, Robert Shenot, Thomas Styer, Robert Trax
Growers: Robert Baronner, Nancy Bernhardt, James Crawford, Elias Groff, Francis Janoski, Steve Sample, Edward Shenot, Andrew Stoltzfus, Thomas Strzelecki, James Wentzel
University: Shelby Fleischer, Elsa Sanchez
Extension: Steve Bogash, Thomas Butzler, Timothy Elkner, John Esslinger, Warren Goll, Eric Oesterling, Guy Metzler, Lee Young
Farm Show Food Booth
Jonathan Grace, Barron Hetherington, William Reynolds, H. Rohrer Shenk, Dale Whitenight
Ag Progress Days Food Booth
Fred Claycomb, Kathleen Demchak, Peter Feretti, Dale Rozelle, Edward Schlimm
Website Task Force
Bruce Hellerick, Steve Groff, David King, Steve Linville, John Mason Jr.,
2007 PVGA Representatives
Penn State University Agricultural Council
William Troxell
State Council of Farm Organizations
William Troxell, Kenneth Martin
State Fruit & Vegetable Inspection Association
Robert Amsterdam, Craig Pallman, William Troxell
Farm Show Committee
Barron Hetherington, William Reynolds, William Troxell
Pennsylvania Agriculture Company
William Troxell
Joint Convention Committee
Robert Amsterdam, Arthur King, Kenneth Martin, William Troxell
Farm Market Alliance
Robert Amsterdam