The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages America’s farmers and ranchers to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their local county committee. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept nominations for county committee members beginning Friday, June 15, 2018.

Producers across the country are already serving on committees where they play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of FSA, making important decisions on programs dealing with disaster and conservation, emergencies, commodity price loan support, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

“Our county committees make decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally to best serve the needs of agriculture in their community,” said Acting FSA Administrator Steve Peterson. “We strongly encourage all eligible producers to visit their local FSA office today to find out how to get involved in their county’s election. There’s an increasing need for representation from underserved producers, which includes beginning, women and other minority farmers and ranchers.”

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated farmers and ranchers serve on FSA county committees, which consist of three to 11 members and meet once a month, or as needed. Members serve three-year terms.

Producers can nominate themselves or others. Check your local USDA service center to see if your local administrative area is up for election this year. Organizations, including those representing beginning, women and minority producers, may also nominate candidates to better serve their communities. To be eligible to serve on an FSA county committee, producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program and reside in the area where the election is being held.

To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections. All nomination forms for the 2018 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2018. Visit farmers.gov for more information.

Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 5, 2018. Read more to learn about important election dates.

Fans of the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival are sure to be impressed with a brand new website promoting the annual event which was recently launched and is now available at www.fiddlersjamboree.com.

Members of the James G. “Bobo” Driver family, long-time supporters of the Jamboree, funded the new Fiddlers Jamboree website which features beautiful photos with easy to navigate information and a LIVE Twitter feed on the home page.

Mr. Driver founded the National Championship for Country Musician Beginners portion of the Fiddlers Jamboree during the 1980’s to showcase the talents of children up to the age of 12 in seven categories of music and dance competition.

Although tens of thousands attend the festival each year, the new website is designed to broaden its appeal to musicians, artisans, and tourists alike throughout the country and the world.

Read about the story and history of the Fiddlers Jamboree as well as State and Congressional Resolutions paying tribute to the festival. Check out the photo gallery with special memories of past years; a section devoted to previous winners; a schedule of events for this year as well as contestant rules and regulations, along with photos and information about the crafts show and downloadable registration forms. There’s even a listing of lodging locations and more!

For all things related to the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree and Crafts Festival, visit often and see what’s new at www.fiddlersjamboree.com