Vigil has been around agriculture his entire life, growing up on his father’s sheep operation. He took over in 1992 and it became a cow-calf operation.

Jake Vigil has been a member of the Rio Arriba USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee in New Mexico for six years.

“I joined because I wanted to know what is going on in the FSA office,” Vigil said. “FSA programs have really helped me out. I want to make sure my fellow farmers and ranchers know about them too.”

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. Continue reading →

Iversen and her husband, Dick, have a commercial cow-calf operation where they raise Black Angus and Baldies, in addition to having poultry and horses, and harvesting hay

Constance “Connie” Iversen began her service on the Richland County, Montana, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee in 2003 as the minority advisor.  She became an elected member in 2009 and currently serves as the chairperson of the committee.

“County committees are important,” Iversen said. “I believe serving is a part of my duty as a citizen and a member of the agriculture community.”

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. Continue reading →

Savage and his wife, Tawny, own and operate Spirit Lake Native Farm. They produce pure maple syrup, wild rice, blueberries and apples.

Bruce Savage started his service on the South St. Louis County, Minnesota, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee in 2014 as the minority advisor. He became an elected member in 2016.

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. Continue reading →

Being a fifth-generation farmer, Morse grew up around cranberries. He has been an owner and operator for over 30 years, and currently has a 50 acre cranberry farm.

Brad Morse is a fifth-generation cranberry farmer from Massachusetts. He has been a member of the Plymouth County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee since 2012.

“I joined to represent agriculture in my area,” Morse said. “I’m a cranberry farmer in southeastern Massachusetts and my town is very agriculturally diverse.  It’s important to be involved to help keep people farming.”

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. Continue reading →

Hess has been a part of the cattle industry her entire life. Before starting her career, she attended Louisiana State University (LSU) and became the first female member of the LSU livestock judging team.

Monica “Missy” Hess is a cattle producer in Morganza, Louisiana, and the chairperson for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee in Pointe Coupee Parish.

Hess became a county committee member in 2012, after retiring from 33 years of service with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

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. Continue reading →

Doyle partnered with his father, James, nine years ago and they  operate 4,000 acres of no-till corn and soybeans.

Peter Doyle has served on the Fremont County Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Committee in Iowa for nearly four years. He was appointed chairperson a year ago.

“My county executive director called me and asked if joining the county committee would be something I’d be interested in. I’m glad I joined,” he said. “It’s very informative. It put me more in the know of what other farmers are going through. It gives you the opportunity to be a voice and help someone else.” Continue reading →

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened County Committee nominations today and needs your help. Each county office is looking for producers to serve on the local county committee. County Committee elections are held annually in every county. Each year, FSA accepts nominations for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA) and the LAA up for election rotates each year. If your LAA is up for election this year, please nominate yourself or another producer to serve on your local FSA County Committee.

County Committees are unique to FSA and serve as a direct link between agricultural communities across the country and USDA. Committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA. Committees help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level and are comprised of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Producers who serve on committees help decide the kinds of programs their counties will offer and work to make FSA agricultural programs serve the needs of local producers.

FSA recently interviewed a few current county committee members from across the country to spotlight their involvement in their county. While the producers each had different reasons they chose to serve on their FSA County Committee, they all agree that it’s important to let their community and fellow farmers and ranchers know about FSA programs and loans. If you won’t take FSA’s word on getting involved, check back periodically to hear from current county committee members in Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington state and West Virginia.

In the meantime, please visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections for more information on FSA County Committees.