The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started mailing ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the Ochiltree County FSA office or postmarked by Dec. 6.
“FSA county committee members provide valuable knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster and safety-net programs,” said Lauren Motloch, county executive director for Ochiltree County. “Please take a few minutes to review your ballot and make your selection prior to the Dec. 6 deadline.”
Each committee has from three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office, and at least one seat is up for election each year for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA). Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2022. County committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility.
The nominee up for election in LAA 3, which includes the area south of FM 2711, in Ochiltree County is Ramon Vela. Vela is nominated to serve as a committee member for a three-year term. Vela resides in Perryton and has produced corn, sorghum, and livestock for over 20 years.
He is an active member of the community. Vela is a current member of the Perryton ISD Board of Trustees, has served on the Ochiltree General Hospital Board, is a member of the Rotary Club, and is a graduate of Leadership Perryton.
Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation but may not have applied or received FSA program benefits. Also, for County Committee elections, producers who are not of legal voting age, but supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, are eligible to vote.
Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from the Ochiltree County FSA county office. Visit fsa.usda. gov/elections for more information.