FSA County Committees & Local Elections

Your guide to understanding who makes decisions at your FSA office—and how you can get involved.

FSA County Committee Basics

What are FSA County Committees?

FSA County Committees are groups of farmers and ranchers who help the USDA make decisions about how FSA programs are implemented locally. These committees do things like:

  • Represent farmers, ranchers, and producers
  • Administer FSA programs
  • Provide public information and outreach

All of these duties have the goal of ensuring programs are fair, consistent, and grounded in local realities.

We'll get into some more detailed activities and responsibilities below!

Who Serves on a County Committee?

Members are local producers—meaning active farmers or ranchers participating with FSA—who are elected by their peers. Each committee represents several Local Administrative Areas (LAAs).

Every county or multi-county jurisdiction has 3 or more LAAs, with at least one LAA up for election each year on a rotating basis.

FSA County Office Structure

State Committee

Appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture
  • Reviews and approves County Committee decisions
  • Advises COC on program and administrative responsibility
  • Ensures consistency in how federal FSA programs are implemented locally

County Committee (COC)

Elected producers from each Local Administrative Area (LAA)
  • Represents the voice of local agricultural producers
  • Reviews and decides on county-level FSA program applications and disputes
  • Conducts hearings and considers appeals from local farmers

County Executive Director (CED)

Hired by COC
  • Oversees delivery of all FSA programs in the county
  • Serves as the liaison between farmers and the FSA system
  • Implements COC decisions and reports on office operations

Typical Election Cycle & Timeline

Elections take place every year, for one LAA in each county. The typical election timeline looks like this:

Nominate

Submit Form FSA-669A to nominate yourself or another farmer. No endorsements needed.

People
June-August

Submit Vote

Return your completed ballot to ensure your voice is counted.

Choose
December
November
Ballot

Receive Ballot

Ballots are mailed to eligible farmers and ranchers in each Local Administrative Area (LAA).

January
Committee

Results

Newly elected members begin their three-year terms serving your community.

COC Key Activities

Here are some key activities that COC's take part in, which can directly impact farm and ranch operations:

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Program Review & Approvals

  • Review certain routine FSA program applications
  • Delegate approval authority to the CED for routine decisions
  • Provides support for complex or sensitive cases
Wildfire

Disaster Determinations

  • Assess drought or storm damage
  • Help determine whether a disaster qualifies for relief
  • Provide local knowledge of natural disaster events
Law

Appeals & Good Faith Determinations

  • Hear appeals for adverse determinations
  • Decide whether producers acted in good faith
  • Decisions may impact payment and program participation

Why These Elections Matter

Many farmers don’t think about County Committees until their support is needed. A program violation, a natural disaster, a mistake on a program application— that’s when your County Committee makes a difference.

Voting for someone who understands your operation and represents your interests means that you’re not alone when policy gets complicated.

These committees are a key component in FSA program administration, providing real influence on local priorities.

How to Get Involved

1. Nominate Someone (or Yourself!)

You don’t need to be nominated by someone else—self-nominations are allowed and encouraged. Just make sure you have an FSA Farm Number and are an active producer in an LAA that is up for an election.

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What to do:

  • Fill out Form FSA-669A
  • Submit it to your local FSA office by the August 1st deadline
  • Confirm your eligibility with the office
💡 Tip: If your operation spans multiple counties or LAAs, your eligibility might depend on where your most significant production occurs.

2. Vote in Your LAA Election

If your LAA is up for election this year, you’ll receive a mail-in ballot in November.

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What to do:

  • Keep an eye on your mailbox in early November
  • Complete and return your ballot before the December deadline
  • Ballots must be signed and returned to count
💡  Because LAAs cover small, local areas, your vote has a huge impact!

3. Talk to Your County Office About Who Represents You

Not sure what LAA you’re in? Or if it’s up for election? Your local FSA office can help.

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What to Ask:

  • “What LAA am I in?”
  • “Is my LAA up for election this year?”
  • “Who currently serves on the County Committee?”
  • “Can I see the map or list of LAAs for this county?”
  • "How do I participate?"
💡 Tip: Use the “Find My LAA” Map on the FSA County Committee Elections website to start your search. Many states now have digital maps available.

Additional Resources

Why Quest

Find my Service Center

Find your local USDA Service Center for assistance with COC-related questions.

Address

Find my LAA

Find your Local Administrative Area to stay up-to-date with your local election cycles!

Users

Nomination Form

Use this nomination form to nominate yourself or someone else in your local LAA.