In addition to the orchards, Wyss is involved in operating Gebbers Farms, an apple business that spans five generations and is over 100 years old.
Melanie Wyss and her brothers, Jason and Brandon, farm nearly 100 acres of cherry, apple and pear orchards in the Okanogan Valley in Washington state. The produce is sold in stores across the nation like Costco, Walmart and Safeway.
Wyss decided to serve on the Okanogan County Committee after her uncle and brothers encouraged her to serve. She is a little over a year into her first term and is the vice chair.
“I see the county committee as advocates and a voice for the farmers,” Wyss said. “I think that it’s important that the producers are heard and we are there to support them.”
She encourages farmers thinking about serving on their county committee to jump in with both feet.
“I absolutely love it,” Wyss said. “I love the people I serve with and learned more about commodities like wheat. It’s a learning experience that I’ve grown from.”
In addition to the orchards, Wyss is involved in operating Gebbers Farms, an apple business that spans five generations and is over 100 years old.
“My great-great-grandfather walked from Nova Scotia to the Okanogan Valley,” Wyss said. “He came to a trading post and asked where would be a good place to get a start. The story is that he had small trees in his backpack and those were some of the first trees planted in our valley. My uncle is now the CEO of the company, my aunts are orchard managers and I’m the oldest of my 20 first cousins that are involved in the family business.”
Aside from farming and serving on the county committee, you can find Wyss and her husband Jon helping coach t-ball and softball teams for their three kids.
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
