Becki Ross was recently elected to the Maricopa County, Arizona FSA County Committee.
By Cassie Bable, Public Affairs Specialist
Farming and ranching is a family business for the Ross family and so is serving on the Maricopa County, Arizona, Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee.
Becki Ross married into a farming and ranching family in 1996 and hasn’t looked back. Ross is part of a fifth-generation family farm that grows 3,000 acres of corn, alfalfa, sorghum, rye and wheat. The family also runs a cow/calf operation and most of the forage they raise is used for their dairy in the east valley.
Ross and her husband, Dustin, live on the ranch with their sons, Wyatt and Nate. Her brother-in-law and his family live on the farm in Gila Bend with her nieces and nephew and her mother and father-in-law live on the dairy in the east valley.
Following in Family Footsteps
Ross’ mother-in-law, Dawnie Stewart, served on the Maricopa County FSA Committee for nine years, the maximum term. As her mother-in-law’s final year came to an end, she encouraged Ross to consider serving on the county committee.
County committee members are elected by their peers and are a direct link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers on the committee help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level, help decide the kind of programs their counties will offer and work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.
Each year, FSA accepts nominations for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA) and the LAA up for election rotates each year.
The Ross family is a fifth-generation family farm that grows row crops and forage and raises beef and dairy cattle.
“My kids are at the age where I’m not so involved in their school, so the county committee seemed like a neat opportunity to learn more about everything FSA offers while helping producers,” said Ross. “I’ve always done the paperwork for the farm and have a friendly relationship with the FSA staff.”
Learning the Ropes
After the votes were tallied, Ross became the newest county committee member. So far, she has attended orientation and meetings. Ross is still learning the ropes, but is eager to learn and serve the Maricopa County producers.
“I feel like I’m not the typical person for this position being a farm bookkeeper, but I think I’ll bring a fresh perspective to the committee,” said Ross.
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.
For the digital version of this blog visit our interactive story map and check back as we add all of our county committee spotlights.
