Mack operates a 20-acre farm that has been in his family for more than 100 years. He grows heirloom variety crops including blueberries, apples and cherries and raises Boer goats.
Walter Mack in St. Helena Island, South Carolina, is serving his second term on the Jasper/Beaufort County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee where he enjoys educating producers about USDA programs and assistance. Mack was first elected to serve on the FSA County Committee in 2012 and was re-elected by his peers in 2015.
Mack considers himself a small-scale farmer. He operates a 20-acre farm that has been in his family for more than 100 years. He grows heirloom variety crops including blueberries, apples and cherries and raises Boer goats. The goats are taken to market or bought directly from Mack and the produce is sold at farmers markets and to a local vendor.
“It’s very important for farmers and someone from the community to be involved with FSA,” Mack said. “I try as hard as I possibly can to get the information to the producers. My main goal is to get as many limited resource farmers involved with FSA as possible.”
Mack encourages people to get involved in their local county committee to ensure that all farmers, including small-scale, commercial operations and underserved groups are included.
County committee members are elected by their peers and are a direct link between the agricultural community and USDA. Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. They help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level. Farmers who serve on committees help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer and work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.
For more information on FSA county committee elections, contact your local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
