Ballots for the county committee election were mailed out Nov. 2 for Local Administrative Areas 2, 4 and 5. Voters have until Dec. 3 to return their ballots to the county office.

FSA County Committee members make important decisions on how federal farm programs fit the needs of Pennsylvania producers. FSA County Committees make decisions on commodity price support loans and payments; establishment of allotments and yields; conservation programs; incentive, indemnity, and disaster payments for some commodities; and other farm disaster assistance.

The FSA County Committee system, established in the 1930s, gives local farmers and ranchers a much-needed say in how farm programs are administered at the grass-roots level. It is vital that all eligible farmers and ranchers vote in this year's election to ensure that these committees represent the interests of all producers in a community.

If you are on the Farm Service Agency mailing list, the chances are you are an eligible voter. Anyone who meets the requirements in 1 or 2, plus 3, below is eligible to vote:

1. Be of legal voting age and have an interest in a farm or ranch as either of the following: a) an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper, or b) a partner in a general partnership or member of a joint venture who has an interest in a farm as an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper; or

2. Not of legal voting age, but supervises and conducts the farming operations on an entire farm; and

3. Eligible to participate in any FSA program that is provided by law, regardless of the status of funding.

The nominees for election in LAA 2 (Central Butler Co) are:

1) Norman Graham — Norman's farm is in Connoquenessing Township. Along with Norman, his son Ryan and his wife, Stella, operate a dairy farm and crop about 400 acres consisting of no-till corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. He has been a full-time dairy farmer since college and involved in numerous farm organizations.

2) Janet Jesteadt — Janet has participated in the operation of Jesteadt Acres Dairy Farm in Muddycreek Township with her husband, Bob, for the past 29 years. They raise more than 90 head of cattle with the help of their two children and family. In addition to milk, the farm produces hay, oats, soybeans and corn on more than 200 acres. Janet also owned/operated a greenhouse for 26 years before retiring in 2006. She is a member of the Butler County Farm Bureau.

3) Carl Shuler — Carl's farm is in Clearfield Township. Carl and his family produce beef, sheep, hay and grain. He operates farms in Butler and Armstrong counties.

The nominees for election in LAA 4 (Northern Beaver Co) are:

1) Ron Caldwell — Ron's farm is in North Sewickley. Ron and his family operate a seasonal dairy farm. They milk about 80 head of cattle and own 80 head of young stock. Ron harvests hay and grazes on 350 acres. Ron currently serves on the Farm Service Agency County Committee.

2) Christine Fischer — Christine's farm is in Franklin Township. They milk 40 head of Regular Jerseys and raise about 35 head of young stock. Her husband, Steve, daughter, Lindsay, and son, Matt, share the responsibilities on their five-generation farm. They produce most of their feed used by the cattle. Christine is active in dairy promotion and serves as a director for Western PA Jersey Cattle Club.

3) Elder Vogel Sr. — Elder operates Junell Farm along with help from his wife, June, and son Elder Jr. Their dairy operation currently consists of 50 registered Holsteins. Corn, wheat, oats and hay are grown on 400 acres they own and on an additional 200 acres rented. He has participated in various groups through the years such as serving for 25 years as state director with the PA State Holstein Association; 17 years as a 4-H Dairy Leader in Beaver County; six years on the PA Dairy Promotion Board; eight years on the Dairy Princess Promotion Board; eight years as national director on the Farm Bureau; six years on the National Farm Bureau Dairy Committee and also worked as a field assistant for the Farm Service Agency and conducted crop appraisals for crop insurance.

The nominees for election in LAA 5 (Southern Beaver and Allegheny) are:

1) James Brunton — Brunton Dairy farm is in Independence Twp., Beaver County, and is operated by James, two brothers and other family members. They milk 104 cows and raise 230 acres of hay. Their milk is processed on the farm and distributed in the local area.

2) Robert Byrnes Jr. — Robert's family farm is in urban Allegheny County. They grow non-till, organic medicinal herbs in their natural settings. Their main crop is organic Ginseng. They are a small micro farm of 10 acres, which is still on the rebuild after the Hurricane Ivan flood of 2004.

3) Henry Mallisee — Henry's farm is in Plum, Allegheny County. Henry and his family raise beef cattle, corn, sweet corn, oats, wheat, rye and hay.

4) Thomas Mischen — Tom's farm is in West Deer Township, Allegheny County. He has a commercial beef herd and retails the beef at their retail store, Mish Farms Meat Market. Tom is a member of the PA Cattlemen's Association, National Cattlemen's Association and the Red Angus Association.

5) William Scott — Bill milks 75 Holstein cows on a family farm in Oakdale, Allegheny County. Bill's father, John Sr., and brother, John Jr., help when possible. They grow corn and hay along with maintaining pasture on 400 acres. Bill is actively involved with Holstein Association USA.

6) Virginia Strouss — Ginny's farm is in Findlay Township, Allegheny County. Also involved in the farming operation are her parents, Earl and Mary, along with her Uncle Chuck, daughter Tiffany, fiancé, Randy, and some great neighbors. Previously, a dairy herd was involved in the farm. Currently on their 244-acre farm they produce corn, oats, speltz, straw and hay. They have eight head of cattle and 10 horses. Ginny is also active in the community with her church, and the "Christmas Light-Up Celebration," which is held from mid-November through early January.

7) Albert Weltner — Green Valley Dairy is in Hanover & Green townships, Beaver County. Along with his wife, Carol, and his daughter, Farin, they milk about 90 regular Holsteins and have about 50 replacements. They raise corn for silage and mixed hay on about 300 acres. Albert also has a son, Clint, and a daughter, Reagan, that are both teachers.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.