Donny Green, County Executive Director of the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency, announces that the 2017 FSA County Committee Election is underway as ballots were mailed to eligible voters in Local Administrative Area (LAA) # 2 (DeKalb County) and Local Administrative Area # 4 (Cannon County) on November 6th. December 4, 2017 will be the last day to postmark voted ballots returned by mail or to delivery voted ballots to the local FSA office.
Grant Williams is the only candidate nominated for LAA # 2 (DeKalb Co.). Grant has been certified as an eligible candidate. Mr. Williams operates a beef cattle farm in the Dale Ridge Community.
Javin Fann is the only candidate nominated for LAA # 4 (Cannon Co.). Javin has been certified as an eligible candidate. Mr. Fann produces corn, soybeans, and wheat on his family farm and is completing his second term on the DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee where he currently serves as the Vice-Chairperson.
Write-in candidates can be accepted on ballots. However, the write-in candidate must meet eligibility criteria and attest to his or her willingness to serve, if elected, by signing a nominating petition. Agricultural producers were encouraged to submit candidate names during the nomination period that ended August 1, 2017.
“The FSA county committee system is unique among government agencies, because it allows producers to make important decisions concerning the local administration of federal farm programs. All eligible farmers and ranchers, especially minorities and women, are encouraged to get involved and make a real difference in their communities by voting in this year’s elections,” says Green.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in FSA programs. A person who is not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, can also vote.
Eligible voters in DeKalb County LAA # 2 or Cannon County LAA # 4 who did not receive a ballot can obtain a ballot at their local USDA Service Center. December 4, 2017 is the last day for voters to submit ballots in person to local USDA Service Centers. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked no later than December 4, 2017. The DeKalb/Cannon FSA County Committee will meet on December 5, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. to canvass and tabulate the ballots. This meeting is open to the public. The newly elected committee member and alternates take office January 1st, 2018.
