(a) There is hereby created the Kansas sheep council.

(b) The council shall consist of seven members who will be elected at the annual meeting of the Kansas sheep association. The board of directors of the Kansas sheep association shall act as interim council members until council members can be elected and qualified. Vacancies which may occur shall be filled for unexpired terms by the board of directors of the Kansas sheep association from among the producers of the state. Each council member appointed on and after the effective date of this act, other than a council member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term, shall be elected for a term of four years except that three of the council members first elected on and after the effective date of this act shall be elected for a term of two years. No member may serve more than one consecutive term. Upon the expiration of a term of a member of the council, such member shall continue to serve as a member of the council until a successor to such member is elected and qualified.

(c) Members of the council shall be residents of this state and have been an active producer in this state for at least five years immediately preceding their appointment. Of such members, two members shall be lamb feeders, two members shall have ewe flocks, one member shall produce purebred sheep and two members shall be from producers at large. The selections shall be made from nominations for each respective position by each respective producer group. The elections will be held at an open session to all sheep producers at the annual meeting of the Kansas sheep association.

(d) The dean of the college of agriculture of Kansas state university or the dean’s representative and the secretary or the secretary’s designee shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the board.

(e) The council shall annually elect a chairperson from its membership.

(f) A member of the council may cease to hold such member’s position on the council for any of the following reasons, at the discretion of a majority of the council, upon resolution duly adopted by the council dismissing such member: (1) Failure to attend two or more regular meetings of the council; or (2) ceasing to be a producer.

(g) Members of the Kansas sheep council attending meetings of such council, or attending a subcommittee meeting authorized by such council, shall be paid compensation and other expenses.

(h) The council shall meet at least once every calendar quarter regularly and hold an annual meeting which shall be open to the public. The day, time and place of each meeting shall be determined by the council. The chairperson or any three members of the council may call special meetings of the council upon such notice as may be prescribed by the duly adopted rules and regulations of the council.