Be the Link: Building Community

It’s time once again for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) annual county committee elections. We're introducing you to current committee members across the nation throughout the nomination period, which runs now through Aug. 1, 2025. This week, meet Bethany Wettstein of Davis County, Iowa.

Bethany Wettstein and her husband, Alan, have been farming for 15 years. Alan always wanted to be a full-time farmer, so he left his concrete business to put his dream into action and recruited Bethany to join him as his working partner. 

“He needed a farm hand, so he recruited the best and the rest is history!” she said.   

Bethany and Alan have an organic row crop operation and focus primarily on corn, wheat and soybeans but have also produced oats, rye, sunflower seeds and peas.

Bethany is in her fifth year of serving on the FSA Davis County Committee and is currently the vice chairperson. She decided to become a county committee member to get more involved in the agricultural community and connect with others in the field through service. 

“I find the relationships I build with other county committee members and the FSA staff to be the most satisfying aspect of serving on the county committee,” she said. 

Bethany enjoys serving on the county committee, increasing her knowledge of USDA farm programs, helping ensure the integrity of programs and serving as a resource for other producers. 

“It has been a great experience for me, and it is an excellent way to invest back in the agriculture community,” she said. 

County committee members are elected by their peers to serve as a direct link between the agricultural community and USDA. Producers on the committee help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level, and work to make federal farm programs serve the needs of local producers. 

Each year, FSA accepts nominations for a certain Local Administrative Area (LAA); the LAA up for election rotates annually.

Bethany encourages others to consider running for their local county committee and believes in the importance of the local involvement county committees provide.   

“It’s a great opportunity to build community with other producers who have a shared interest,” she said. “You learn so much about programs and how they are administered.  You also see how the availability of programs has a positive impact in the lives of producers in your area.” 

More Information

For more information on FSA county committee elections, contact your local FSA office or visit fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Elizabeth Benjamin is the FSA county executive director for Davis and Wapello County in Iowa.