USDA/Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees are a critical component of the day-to-day operations of FSA, and allow grassroots input and local administration of federal farm programs.

Committees are comprised of locally elected agricultural producers responsible for the fair and equitable administration of FSA farm programs in their counties. Committee members are accountable to the Secretary of Agriculture. If elected, members become part of a local decision making and farm program delivery process.

The FSA county committee nomination period began on June 15, 2020. Nomination forms must be postmarked or received in the Chouteau County FSA office by close of business on Aug. 3, 2020.

For election purposes, counties are divided into local administrative areas (LAA). Each LAA nominates and elects one producer to serve a three-year term on the FSA county committee.

Each year, an election is held in an LAA where a committee member’s three-year term is expiring. For 2020, an election will be held in LAA 1, which includes the Carter and “Knees” areas of Chouteau County.

To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in a program administered by FSA, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the LAA in which the person is a candidate.

Farmers and ranchers may nominate themselves or others. Organizations representing minorities and women also may nominate candidates. To become a candidate, an eligible individual must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections. For more information, please contact Bill Evans at 406-622-5401 or bill.evans@usda.gov