By WENDY B. MODLIN

County Executive Director – Farm Service Agency

County committees are an important element of the Farm Service Agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and county committee elections are upcoming.

County Committee (COC) elections provide farmers and ranchers the opportunity to run for and be elected to represent producers in their community as an elected member on their local FSA COC.

All farmers and ranchers are encouraged to consider running for COC seats. Significant emphasis continues to be placed on improving COC diversity. FSA is working diligently to increase targeted underserved representation on COCs through targeted program outreach activities.

As a result of these targeted efforts, state and county offices have been able to place many more underserved candidates’ names on ballots.

Efforts are continuing to ensure that targeted underserved farmers and ranchers have every opportunity for election to FSA COCs. FSA is continuing to encourage voters to look to beginning farmers and ranchers as a source for nominees of COC elections.

COC members and FSA County Office employees are reaching out to beginning farmers and ranchers with information and encouragement to run for a seat on COC. Beginning farmer contacts include, but are not limited to, county extension educators and high school and college instructors.

Publicity and outreach efforts are being directed to all producers, with special emphasis on underserved (minorities and women) and beginning farmers and ranchers.

In order to reach out and make the public more aware of the County Committees role and responsibilities, FSA will host an informational meeting to explain the roles on Tuesday, July 26, at 1 p.m. This meeting will be held at the FSA office located at 155 L.A. Keiser Drive in Columbia.

If special accommodations are needed, call the FSA office by July 22. For more information, call the FSA office at 252-796-3701.