The following is a press release from the USDA:
MONTICELLO, Ark. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed 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 Drew County FSA office or postmarked by Dec. 2, 2024.
“FSA county committee members provide valuable knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster assistance and other critical financial and technical support programs,” said Lorri Sloate, County Executive Director for Drew County. “Please take a few minutes to review your ballot and make your selection prior to the Dec. 2 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, 2025. Drew County committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.
The following producer(s) have been nominated and are running in the 2024 election in LAA 1 in Drew County, which includes the community townships of: Clearcreek, Saline, Crook and Veasey in Drew County are John (Rusty) Mitchell.
John (Rusty) Mitchell has been nominated in LAA-1 to serve as COC member for a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2025. Mr. Mitchell resides in Monticello, AR. He has been raising cattle for over 26 years, raising chickens for 13 years and farming corn for 4 years. He has 28 years in Wildlife Management for AGFC. He is an active member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association. He served on the Delta Farm Credit Board for five years. He is currently serving on Yorktown Water Board for five years now. He is currently serving on the Drew/Bradley/Calhoun County Committee as member.
The following producer(s) have been nominated and are running in the 2024 election in LAA 7 in Calhoun County, which includes the community townships of Summerville, Delhi and Locust Bayou, all county area south of Hwy 278 are David Morris and Jimmy D Williams.
Mr. David Morris has been nominated in LAA-7 to serve as COC member for a 3- year term beginning January 1, 2025. Mr. Morris resides in Hampton, Arkansas. He has been in some type of farming for the last 60 years. He has grown wheat, raised horses, cows and pigs. He is a past member of the Arkansas Cattlemen Association and is a member of the Arkansas State Horseshow, a member of Farm Bureau. He is currently serving on the Drew/Bradley/Calhoun County Committee.
Mr. Jimmy D Williams has also been nominated in LAA-7 to serve as COC member for a 3- year term beginning January 1, 2025. Mr. Williams resides in Harrell, Arkansas. He is a farmland owner in Calhoun County.
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 to FSA, even if they have not applied or received 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. Producers can identify LAAs up for election through a geographic information system locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections and may confirm their LAA by contacting their local FSA office. Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from the Drew County FSA office by mail or call 870-224-7319.
