The 2017 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections began on Nov. 6, when ballots were mailed to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 4, 2017.
County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity and disaster programs for some commodities; emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm may also be eligible to vote.
Eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) 2 and 3, who do not receive a ballot can obtain one from their local USDA Service Center. Dec. 4, 2017, is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must also be postmarked no later than Dec. 4. Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2018.
The candidates in this year’s election are:
John Spence is nominated in LAA 2, El Paso County, to serve as a committee member. Spence resides in Fabens and has produced cotton, pecans and alfalfa for more than 27 years. He is an active member of the Valley Gin Board, Texas Cotton Producers Assoc., is a delegate for National Cotton Council, serves on the Soil and Water Conservation District, and currently is the Chairman of the El Paso-Hudspeth-Culberson FSA committee.
Angel Dominguez is nominated in LAA 2, El Paso County, to serve as a committee member. Dominguez resides in Fabens and produced cotton, alfalfa and pecans for more than 21 years. He is an active member of the Soil and Water Conservation District and serves as secretary.
Daniel Ainsworth is nominated in LAA 3, Hudspeth County, to serve as a committee member. Ainsworth resides in Dell City and has produced alfalfa and peppers for more than 22 years. He is currently an active member of the El Paso-Hudspeth-Culberson FSA committee.
Brian Archuleta is nominated in LAA 3, Hudspeth County, to serve as a committee member. Archuleta resides in Dell City and has produced alfalfa, feed grains, and peppers for 10 years. He is an active member of the Soil and Water Conservation District and serves as a member.
More information on county committees, such as the new 2017 fact sheet, can be found on the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.
