Matt Thorton, a fourth-generation farmer, is currently serving in his first year on the FSA county committee. Photo courtesy of Matt Thorton.

By Joshua Ford, Farm Service Agency 

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Matt Thornton of Rogersville, Alabama. 

A Family Affair 

Matt Thornton has been farming his whole life. He’s a fourth-generation farmer operating in Lauderdale, Colbert and Lawrence counties as part of D&C Thornton Farms, LLC, where he grows corn, cotton, wheat and soybeans. 

The operation consists of Matt; his cousin, Chris Thornton; Matt’s son, Titus; as well as Chris’s son, CJ; and Chris’s daughter, Gracie. D&C Thornton Farms is truly a family operation. Matt’s hope is that one day, his youngest children, Tatum and Tilly, may also play a role in the operation.    Continue reading →

Bethany Wettstein works her organic row crop operation.  Photo courtesy of Bethany Wettstein. 

By Elizabeth Benjamin, Farm Service Agency 

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Bethany Wettstein of Davis County, Iowa. 

Bethany Wettstein and her husband, Alan, have been farming for 15 years. Alan always wanted to be a full-time farmer, so he left his concrete business to put his dream into action and recruited Bethany to join him as his working partner.    Continue reading →

Jason Gauthier, a third-generation farmer, is currently serving in his seventh year on the FSA county committee. Photo courtesy of Jason Gauthier.

By Lisa B. Couvillion, Farm Service Agency 

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Jason Gauthier of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.  

A Family Affair

Jason grew up in a farming family. Working alongside his grandfather and uncle, he always knew he wanted to make a career out of farming. “I guess you could say farming is in my blood,” he said. In 1996, he followed in his family’s footsteps and made that dream a reality by running his own operation.    Continue reading →

County committee chairperson Jeb Malone stands in front of the Murray County USDA service center, where he serves as a link between FSA and local producers. Photo by Sharie Bergman, FSA.

By Lynn Pfarr, Farm Service Agency

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Jeb Malone of Murray County, Minnesota.

Local Concerns, Local Decisions

As chairperson of the FSA Murray County Committee, Jeb Malone brings a rare combination of hands-on farming experience, deep local roots and seasoned public service. A lifelong farmer, Jeb is passionate about making sure local producers have a voice in how federal programs are implemented in their own backyard. Continue reading →

Barry and his wife, Lisa, at their family farm, Cattail Creek Farms. Photo courtesy of Barry Warner.

By Joseph Chandler, Farm Service Agency

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Barry Warner of Buckingham County, Virginia.

Growing Up on the Farm

Barry Warner grew up on a working beef cattle farm in Buckingham County, Virginia, where feeding cattle and repairing fences and gates were an everyday occurrence.

Fast forward 50 years and Barry has done it all: cattle operations, hay operations, raising crops, grinding corn, chopping silage and raising tobacco – where he planted, weeded, cut, stripped and hand tied the leaves for market.

During that time, Barry wasn’t just farming; he also had a career off-farm working for the Virginia Department of Corrections for more than 30 years.

His recent retirement from that career has afforded him even more time to continue his love for farming. In retirement, he transformed his farmland into hay forage to provide quality hay for nearby cattle and horse operations. Continue reading →

By Madeline Alewine, Farm Service Agency

First-generation farmer, Tommy Salisbury, serves as chairman on his FSA county committee in Oklahoma. Photo by Emily McGough, FSA.

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Tommy Salisbury of Rogers County, Okla.

Building a Future

Tommy Salisbury is a county committee chairman and leader in the agriculture industry. He makes a difference in his community and the agricultural industry by advocating for policies that will benefit local farmers and educating and helping develop future producers. The first-generation farmer has planted roots deep into the Collinsville community, determined to make an impact. Continue reading →

Marcia Lyons stands with her husband, Don, on their family farm, SeaLyon. Photo courtesy of Marcia Lyons.

By Maria Granger, Farm Service Agency

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Marcia Lyons of Alna, Maine.  

Deeply Rooted 

Farming and agriculture are in Marcia Lyon’s blood.   

“My family’s history with farming and agriculture started when my grandparents came to America from Ireland. Our family has always had a love for animals and a desire to help and feed others,” said Marcia.     Continue reading →

Caitlin Roundtree with her husband Kiley and their son at their family farm near Parks, Nebraska. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Roundtree.

By Bobbie Kriz-Wickham, Farm Service Agency

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We’re introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Caitlin Roundtree of Parks, Nebraska.

Caitlin and her husband, Kiley, have a diversified farm, where they raise wheat, corn, milo and popcorn and have a cow-calf herd. They have one son, 6, who just marked his kindergarten graduation. Caitlin has a full-time, off-farm job as a merchandiser for a grain elevator in the area.

All of these things add up to a busy life, but not so busy that she hasn’t found time for public service. Caitlin is in the first year of her second three-year Dundy County Committee term. She currently serves as the committee’s vice president. Continue reading →