Lujan and her husband, Manuel, grow wheat and grain sorghum, and are working on expanding their livestock herd.

Lorena Lujan has served on the Reeves/Loving/Ward/Winkler County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee since 2013. Prior to becoming an elected member, she served as the advisor from 2008 through 2012.

Lujan decided to serve on the FSA county committee to help other producers. When the Lujans bought their first plot of land to farm, an FSA county committee member at the time directed them to their local FSA office to enroll in farm programs by setting up a farm number and reporting their acres.

Lujan is returning that favor now by helping the farmers and ranchers in her county get the assistance and information they need. Continue reading →

Dawson and her husband Phil run 250 head of Angus and mixed-breed cattle on 1,200 acres of pasture and grow corn, soybeans and winter wheat on 800 acres.

Beth Lee Dawson has served on the Dickson County USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Committee in Tennessee for two years. Dawson and her husband, Phil, grow corn, soybeans and winter wheat on 800 acres. They also run 250 head of Angus and mixed-breed cattle on 1,200 acres of pasture.

Dawson works full-time off the farm as an accountant for several small companies and Phil farms full-time. Dawson’s background in accounting means that she handles the books for the farming operation and conducts all of the business at the Dickson County FSA Office.

“My husband is not a paperwork person,” Dawson said. “I always fill out the paperwork every year to report crops, revenue and sign up for programs. I know the employees in the office and how it all works.” Continue reading →

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. Continue reading →

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 →