Farmers and ranchers encouraged to vote in 2017 County Committee elections
The Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections for 2017 began on Nov. 6, when ballots were mailed to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 4, 2017.
County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity and disaster programs for some commodities; emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm may also be eligible to vote.
Eligible voters in Local Administrative Area 1, who do not receive a ballot can obtain one from their local USDA Service Center. Dec. 4, 2017, is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers.
Ballots returned by mail must also be postmarked no later than Dec. 4. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2018.
The candidates in this year’s election are:
• Ryan Galloway is nominated in LAA 1, Darlington County, to serve as a committee member. Ryan resides in Darlington and has produced corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans for 13 years. Ryan is an active member of Farm Bureau where he serves as a board member on both the Darlington County and state levels. He is also an active member of the Darlington County Young Farmers Association.
• Cody R. Windham is nominated in LAA 1, Darlington County, to serve as a committee member. Cody resides in Lamar and has produced corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat for 5 years.
More information on county committees, such as the new 2017 Fact Sheet, can be found on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.
