USDA reminds farmers and ranchers to vote in Woods County committee election

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed 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 Woods County FSA office or postmarked by Dec. 2.

“FSA county committee members provide valuable knowledge and judgment as decisions are made about the services we provide, including disaster assistance and other critical financial and technical support programs,” said Lisa Higgins, executive director for Woods County. “Please take a few minutes to review your ballot and make your selection prior to the Dec. 2 deadline.”

The following producers have been nominated and are running in the 2024 election in LAA 3, which includes all areas south of Dewey Road in Woods County, in Woods are Janean Johnson, Travis George and Dale Zook

Johnson is nominated to serve as a committee member for a three-year term. Johnson resides in Dacoma and has produced wheat, canola and sesame, along with stocker cattle, for 37 years.

Janean currently serves as the advisor on the Woods County COC.

George has also been nominated to serve as a committee member for a three-year term. George resides in Waynoka and has produced Alfalfa Hay and other crops for 30 years. George also has a cattle herd.

Zook has also been nominated to serve as a committee member for a three-year term. Zook resides east of Waynoka and has produced wheat and run a cattle operation for 40-plus years.

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 to FSA, even if they have not applied or received 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 identify LAAs up for election through a geographic information system locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections and may confirm their LAA by contacting their local FSA office. Eligible voters who do not receive a ballot in the mail can request one from the Woods County FSA office at 927 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, or call 580-327-3136.