FSA county committee nomination period starts June 15

Cheyenne County USDA Farm Service Agency Executive Director Brad Fraass, announced that county committee election nominations begin June 15. Farmers, ranchers and landowners are encouraged to nominate farmer and rancher candidates to serve on their local FSA county committee by the Aug. 3 deadline.

Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity, and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues.

“County committee members are a valuable asset because they are local producers who participate in FSA programs themselves and have a direct connection to farmers and ranchers in the community,” Fraass said. “I would like to see a high level of participation in this year’s nomination and election process.”

Producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations that represent minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates. Nominees must participate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area in which the person is a candidate. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about county committee elections are available online at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

“It is important that the county committee reflects the demographics and agricultural interests of the community these individuals represent,” Fraass said. “I strongly encourage all producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers to participate in the nomination and election process,” he said.

County committees are comprised of three to five members elected by local producers. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office Jan. 1, 2016.

Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by close of business on Aug. 3. For more information about county committees, contact the Cheyenne County FSA office at (308) 254-4507 or visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov.