USDA reminds Rooks County farmers and ranchers to vote in Rooks 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 Rooks 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 Bailey Boomhower, county executive director for Rooks and Phillips Counties.

“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. Rooks 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 LAA1, which includes North half of the East 2/3 of Rooks County (includes all of Farmington, Lanark, Ash Rock, Stockton, Iowa, and Lowell Townships and the north half of Hobart, Greenfield and Medicine Townships), are Gina Dix, Leonard Dix, and Andrew Muir.

Gina Dix is nominated in LAA1, Rooks County, to serve as COC member for a three-year term beginning 01-01-2023. Gina resides in LAA1 and has grown wheat, milo, corn, and soybeans for more than 40 years. Her family also has a cow/calf operation. She is an active member of the Rooks County FSA committee and serves as an advisor. Gina attended school in Stockton and graduated from Fort Hays State University. She was a teacher in the Stockton school district for thirty- three years. Gina and her husband, Mark, have three children. She has enjoyed serving as an advisor on the Rooks County FSA Committee since the spring of 2022. It has been a learning experience, and the committee members and FSA staff have been most helpful in showing her the ropes.

Leonard Dix is nominated in LAA1, Rooks County, to serve as a COC member for a three-year term beginning 01-012023. Leonard resides in LAA1 and has produced wheat, soybeans, sorghum, alfalfa, and cattle for 25 years. He is a member of KLA and NCBA. Leonard has lived in Rooks County for 39 years. He has always wanted to farm and enjoys the lifestyle it has brought to him and his family.

Andrew Muir is nominated for LAA1, Rooks County, to serve as a COC member for a three-year term beginning 01-012023. Andy farms in LAA1.

He was raised on his family farm in northern Rooks County. They raised cattle, sheep and had a dairy farm, along with producing wheat, milo, corn, soybeans and hay.

Andy worked construction for 25 years before rejoining the family farm.

He enjoys the process of starting with a bare piece of ground and turning it into a new building or field of corn. He would like to become more involved in the agriculture industry to educate himself as well as help other producers.

Andy is married to Amber Muir and have three children, Brin, Damon and Hudson. He hopes someday they will carry on the family farming operation.

He has been a volunteer youth sports coach for eight years and has been a 4-H Club leader for two years. Andy is also a board member of the Stockton Industrial Development Corporation.

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.