Harold W. Foertsch of Jefferson Township is completing his 31st year of service as a member of the FSA county committee.

Foertsch was first elected to the committee back in 1978. Since then, every time there has been an election in Local Administrative Area #3, which encompasses the bottom one-third of Butler County, Foertsch has won the election.

Normally, committee members have a three-term limit, but in Foertsch's case, each time he reached the term limit, something would change. FSA was formerly known as ASCS, and for a short time CFSA. Those two agency name changes started the clock again for term limits. Then, when Butler was combined with Beaver and Allegheny counties, a new committee was formed with new term limits yet again. It appears this might end what is probably one of the longest consecutive terms ever for a county committee member.

Foertsch always seemed to win elections by a large majority of votes, likely because of being very well known throughout the community and for his many years of volunteer service to organizations such as the Butler Farm Show and 4-H livestock club along with numerous other community activities.

During his long-standing tenure on the county committee, Foertsch has always been impartial and provided well thought out decision making. His dedication to FSA carries through even when he is at home on his farm. It is not uncommon for other producers to call or visit him with a concern regarding FSA program administration. Foertsch has always been willing to try to assist, many times putting other activities ahead of those on his farm.

Foertsch and his family operate Har-Lo Farms on West Jefferson Road. They produce hay, corn, sweet corn, pumpkins, potatoes, barley, oats, wheat and soybeans on 1,350 acres located in Jefferson, Butler, Penn and Buffalo townships.

Although Foertsch will be missed, someone will be elected to represent LAA #3 for a three-year term. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 3. Anyone wanting to nominate someone may request a nomination petition from the local FSA service center or online at http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet.

Committee members are responsible for oversight of FSA programs at the local level. Committee members are paid for their time and mileage expenses for compensation of their time spent away from their farm. Committee meetings are held every five to six weeks, sometimes even monthly if needed.

Almost anyone eligible to take part in a local FSA program and of legal voting age may be a candidate for a COC. The following persons also are eligible to participate in the election process: an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper; a spouse listed on the property deed; the spouse of an eligible voter in a community property state; 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; and someone who is not of legal voting age, but who supervises and conducts the farming operations on an entire farm.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate. In addition, candidates can be nominated by organizations representing socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

Nominations and elections are open to all eligible candidates and voters without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status or disability. FSA is committed to promoting diversity on its local COC so minority, female and other underrepresented people have a say in how the Agency's programs are administered locally.

Details on FSA COC elections can be found in a fact sheet located at www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/facts/html/cocelec08.htm.

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