Farm Servicec Agency seeks nominees for upcoming committee elections

Nominations are now being accepted for candidates to run in the upcoming county committee election, according to Aaron Ivie, executive director for the Dunklin County Farm Service Agency.

The annual election for the Dunklin County FSA County Committee will take place in November by mail-in ballot. The deadline to return nomination forms to the FSA county office is Sept. 3, 2004.

Nomination forms will be available at the FSA county office on the North By-Pass in Kennett. Only one nominee may be named on each form. Eligible voters may circulate and sign nomination forms for as many candidates as they choose.

Ivie said the county committee gives local producers a say in how federal farm programs are implemented in the county. The committee oversees the work of county executive director, acts in an advisory capacity to the farm loan manager and is accountable to the state committee.

Producers who are eligible to vote in the county committee election may nominate candidates. Nominees must also be eligible voters and must agree to serve on the committee if elected.

Eligible voters must be of legal voting age and have an interest in farmland as an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper, or be eligible to participate in agency programs. The spouse of eligible voter may also vote and serve on the committee if nominated and elected.

Ivie said the committee wants to see more women and minority farmers participate in the election and run for vacant seats.