USDA Reminds Fayette and Lee County Farmers, Ranchers to Vote in County Committee Election

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 Fayette/ Lee County FSA office or postmarked by Dec. 6.

“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 Levi Garlick, county executive director for Fayette/ Lee County. “Please take a few minutes to review your ballot and make your selection prior to the Dec. 6 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, 2022. County committee members help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs, conservation programs, indemnity and disaster programs, and emergency programs and eligibility.

The nominees up for election in LAA 2, which includes Flatonia, Praha, Engle, Cistern, Muldoon, West of Freyburg, O’Quinn, South of Kirtley, West Point and Plum, in Fayette County are Andrew Velasquez and Richard Niemann.

Velasquez is nominated to serve as a committee member for a three-year term. Velasquez resides in the Praha area and has operated a cow/calf operation for over 30 years with his wife, Susan. They also raise sorghum forage and hay. Mr. Velasquez is also a member of the Fayette County Farm Bureau.

Richard Niemann has also been nominated to serve as a committee member for a threeyear term. Niemann has run a cow/calf operation just southeast of Flatonia for 44 years. In 2012, he and his family were honored to receive the family land heritage “Certificate of Honor” for 100 years of continuous agriculture service to the state of Texas. He and his wife Dianne have two children and three grandchildren.

The nominees up for election in LAA 4, which includes Dime Box, Giddings, Lincoln, Manheim, Northrup and Post Oak, in Lee County are Larry Schatte and Gentry Cooper.

Schatte is nominated to serve as a committee member for a three-year term. Schatte and wife, Rita, have been involved in agriculture for many years. They currently operate a beef cattle business which includes cow/calf and stockers. They also raise sorghum forage and hay. Mr. Schatte is also active in the Lee County Jr. Livestock Show.

Gentry Cooper has also been nominated to serve as a committee member for a threeyear term. Cooper lives in the Ledbetter area and has been involved in agriculture his entire life. Growing up he helped with his family’s peanut farm and now runs a cow/calf operation for the last 35 years with his wife Cathy. Mr. Cooper’s passion is working with the youth track program during the summer, which he has done for over 35 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 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.