Deadline for Farm Service Agency Committee member approaching

Deadline for Farm Service Agency Committee member approaching
                        

The deadline to vote for your local Farm Service Agency County Committee member is right around the corner. Ballots need to be received by the FSA office in Millersburg no later than Dec. 4.

“What we’re doing,” said Lora Howell, county executive director for the Farm Service Agency in Millersburg, “is we’re actually electing one representative for Richland, Killbuck, Mechanic and Clark townships. So those four townships have received election information. This is called a ‘local area,’ and these are the townships to be represented on the Holmes County Committee.”

What this means is that out of four local areas within Holmes County, only the position in Local Area 2, which consists of Richland, Killbuck, Mechanic and Clark, is up for election right now.

“Currently serving on the county committee are Don Stitzlein, Christina Kauffman, Roger Patterson and Kurt Wachtel,” Howell said.

Patterson is the elected committee member serving Local Area 2, though voters will decide whether he retains the position or a new committee member is elected.

The duties of serving committee members vary. “One of the main things is that they are responsible for the administration of the local county office,” Howell said. “They implement several things: the safety net for the loans and payments for example. They also set county yields, and they administer conservation programs.”

Committee members also operate within official USDA framework to help oversee disaster-relief payments, emergency programs and payment eligibility for these and other programs.

In order to vote, voters must meet certain eligibility requirements. For starters, voters must participate in FSA programs within the local area currently up for election: in this case Local Area 2. Voters also must be eligible to participate in general elections and either farm themselves, have an interest in farming, or hold status as an authorized representative for corporation, estate or other business enterprise within the area.

Voting is simple. Eligible voters within Local Area 2 are asked to fill out ballots and mail them to the FSA office in Millersburg so they are received no later than Dec. 4.

“Your ballots should have come out the week of Nov. 6 to elect one representative for these townships,” Howell said. “If you didn’t get a ballot and you want to vote, just stop in at the FSA office and you can vote in person.”

The winner of this election will take office officially on Jan. 1, 2018.

If you are interested in running for the position yourself, the nomination period for this particular election opened on June 15, but it closed on Aug. 1, which means the deadline to be nominated as a candidate is already over. However, Howell said this should not discourage people from using the write-in option on their ballots.

“Only one nominee turned in a nomination form, but that doesn’t mean that no one else can be elected,” Howell said. “Write-ins are available. Voters just need to remember to address their ballots accordingly.”

In order to be an eligible office holder, one must participate in a program administered by the FSA and be an eligible voter in FSA county elections. Potential committee members also must live in the local area in which he or she may be elected.

For more information about voting on FSA committee members, running for office or concerning future FSA elections in other Holmes County local areas, call the U.S. Consolidated Farm Services Agency in Millersburg at 330-674-2066 or stop in at the office at 76 W. Clinton St.


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