USDA Reminds Northern and Southern County Farmers and Ranchers to Vote in Northern and Southern County Committee Election

December 5 is the Last Day to Return Ballots   

Palmer, AK, Nov. 9, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started mailing ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the Northern and Southern County FSA office or postmarked by Dec. 5, 2022.   

“FSA county committee members provide valuable knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster and safety-net programs,” said CED, Robert Garcia Jr., county executive director for Northern County and CED, Shelby Johnson, county executive director for Southern County “Please take a few minutes to review your ballot and make your selection prior to the Dec. 5 deadline.” 

Each committee has from three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office, and at least one seat is up for election each year for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA). Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2023.  The Northern and Southern committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility.   

Eligible voters in the Northern County local administrative area (LAA 1) and the Southern County local administrative area (LAA 2), who do not receive a ballot can obtain one from their local USDA Service Center.     

The following are this year’s candidates who have been nominated in their LAA’s to serve as a committee member. All candidates have agreed to serve if elected.   

Northern County LAA-1 Includes the area that encompasses the following areas: North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Yukon-Koyukuk and Nome Census areas, as well as the Denali and Fairbanks North Star Borough.   

Rebecca “Becky” Hammond resides on an 80 acre farm east of Fairbanks, AK.  For many years she has raised angora goats, merino sheep, and angora rabbits for fiber and meat.   She also raises poultry for show, eggs, and meat. Becky stays very busy processing fibers by hand spinning, hand dying, and creating different wares from the fiber.   

Mark W. Kern resides on Eielson Farm Road in Salcha, AK.  Mark has a small farm that has produced grass hay and raised animals. Mark actively supports agriculture in Alaska.   

Election Ballots will be Counted in Public at the Northern County FSA Office at 10:00 a.m. on December 13, 2022.   

Southern County LAA-2 Includes the municipality of Anchorage, Valdez/Cordova Census area south of Chugach Mtns. Kenai Peninsula Borough north of Kasilof River.   

Abby Ala, a 2nd generation farmer in Soldotna on land that has been in her family for over 71 years.  Abby operates a greenhouse, producing vegetables for local restaurants and markets.   

Election Ballots will be Counted in Public at the Southern County FSA Office at 9:00 a.m. on December 13, 2022.   

Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation but may not have applied or received FSA program benefits. Also, for county committee elections, producers who are not of legal voting age, but supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, are eligible to vote.

Producers can find out if their LAA is up for election and if they are eligible to vote by contacting their local FSA county office. Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from their local FSA county office. Visit fsa.usda.gov/elections for more information.