St. Croix County U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that County Committee elections are over, and the ballots have been counted.
Michelle Thurland-Martinez of St. Croix was elected to represent local administrative area (LAA) No. 1.
County committee members are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of the Farm Service Agency. They help deliver programs at the county level and work to serve the needs of local producers.
All recently elected county committee members will take office in January 2023 and will be joining the existing committee. Every Farm Service Agency office is required to have a county committee, which are made up of local farmers, ranchers and foresters who are elected by local producers.
Nearly 7,800 Farm Service Agency county committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members impact the administration of the Farm Service Agency within a community by applying their knowledge and judgment to help the agency make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, emergency programs and eligibility.
The members impact producers through their decision-making and help shape the culture of a local Farm Service Agency office. They also ensure the fair and equitable administration of agency farm programs in their counties and are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. Members conduct hearings and reviews as requested by the state committee, ensure underserved farmers, ranchers and foresters are fairly represented, make recommendations to the state committee on existing programs, monitor changes in farm programs and inform farmers of the purpose and provisions of Farm Service Agency programs.
They also assist with outreach and inform underserved producers — such as beginning farmers, ranchers and foresters — about FSA opportunities.
For more information, visit the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or contact the St. Croix County FSA office at 773-9146.
