Elections for the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Lincoln and Garrard County Committees are underway. 

It is important that every eligible producer participate in these elections because FSA county committees are a link between the agricultural community and the USDA.

The 2017 election in Lincoln County will be conducted for the representative Local Administrative Area (LAA): 1, which includes land that is north of highways 78 and 150, including such townships as Hubble, Moreland, Logantown, and areas of Stanford, Hustonville, and Crab Orchard.  

The 2017 election in Garrard County will be conducted for the representative Local Administrative Area (LAA): 4, which is land that is north of highway 52, including such townships as Buena Vista, Bryantsville, Point Leavell, and Buckeye. 

County committee members are a critical component of FSA operations.  Committees should be comprised of members who reflect the diversity of producers involved in production agriculture in Lincoln/Garrard County.  This means that producers representing underserved groups or communities should be on the committee to speak on behalf of their constituency. 

Underserved producers are beginning, women and other minority farmers and ranchers and land owners and/or operators who have limited resources. Other minority groups including Native American and Alaska Natives; persons under the poverty level, and persons that have disabilities are also considered underserved.

County committee election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters on Nov. 6, 2017. 

The last day to return completed ballots to the Lincoln/Garrard County USDA service center is Dec. 4, 2017.

For more information on eligibility to serve on FSA county committees, visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.