Barron “Boots” Hetherington, 66, Ringtown, has been chosen to fill the unexpired term of Schuylkill County Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier, who died Feb. 29. Hetherington was chosen by vote of the five Schuylkill County judges.

President Judge William E. Baldwin said that the court order naming Hetherington was filed Tuesday afternoon. Baldwin said that an oath of office has not yet been scheduled.

Hetherington, 66, is a 1975 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in engineering. He and his wife Robin own and run the 400-acre B & R Farm in Union Township. Hetherington serves as auditor for Union Township.

He is a member and past chair of the Schuylkill County Conservation District board and a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He directed the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association from 1982-2012.

He is a member of the Penn State University board of trustees and a member of the Pennsylvania Master Farmers Association. He chairs the Pennsylvania State Committee for the USDA Farm Service Agency.

In 2011 then-Governor Tom Corbett named Hetherington to serve as Special Advisor in Agriculture. In that role he was Fair Fund Administration, handling the allocation of $3 million which was distributed to 109 agricultural fairs, 67 county 4H groups, 37 Future Farmers of America clubs and 11 statewide agricultural organizations.

In 2007 Hetherington made an unsuccessful run for Register of Wills.