The nomination period for the Watauga/Avery FSA county committee begins on June 15, 2016. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Watauga/Avery County FSA Office by close of business on Aug. 1, 2016.
County Committees are unique to FSA and allow producers to have a voice on federal farm program implementation at the local level.
To be eligible to serve on the FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the Local Administrative Area (LAA) where they are nominated. All producers, including women, minority and beginning farmers and ranchers are encouraged to participate in the nomination and election process.
This year, nominations and elections will be held in LAA 2, which includes the Beaver Dam, Cove Creek, Laurel Creek, Vilas and Watauga-Shawneehaw communities in western Watauga County.
Producers may nominate themselves or others as candidates. Organizations representing minority and women farmers and ranchers may also nominate candidates. To become a nominee, eligible individuals must sign form FSA-669A. The form and more information about county committee elections is available online at: www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.
Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues. County committees consist of 3 to 11 members.
FSA will mail election ballots to eligible voters beginning Nov. 7. Ballots are due back in the Watauga/Avery County Office by mail or in person no later than Dec. 5, 2016. All newly elected county committee members and alternates will take office January 1, 2017.
For more information about county committees, please contact the Watauga/Avery County FSA office at 828 264-3850, ext. 2 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.