The nomination period for the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke FSA county committee will begin on June 15, 2017. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke County FSA Office by close of business on Aug. 1, 2017.
County Committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level.
To be eligible to serve on the FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the Local Administrative Area (LAA) where they are nominated. All producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers are encouraged to participate in the nomination and election process.
This year, nominations and elections will be held in LAA 3, which includes Craig County in its entirety, and LAA 4, which includes Roanoke County in its entirety.
Producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations representing minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about county committee elections is available online at: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues. County committees consist of three to 11 members.
FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 6. Ballots are due back in the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke County Office by mail or in person no later than Dec. 4, 2017. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office January 1, 2018.
For more information about county committees, please contact the Botetourt/Craig/Roanoke County FSA office at 540-977-2698, Ext. 2 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
-Submitted by C. Jean Hazlegrove
