The 2014 election for Schuylkill County Farm Service Agency committee will be held in Local Administrative Area 2, which consists of Blythe, Branch, Cass, New Castle, Norwegian, North Manheim, Reilly, Schuylkill, South Manheim, Walker, Washington, Wayne and West Brunswick townships.

Each member is elected for a three-year term.The nominee receiving the most votes becomes the county committee member. Second-most votes become first alternate and third-most votes become second alternate.The committee members assist in carrying out programs assigned to the FSA committee.The ballot must have one candidate selected and must include on the outside of the returned envelope the eligible voter's signature and be returned to the Schuylkill County Farm Service Agency on or before Dec. 1.The following have been nominated:Elizabeth Leiby grew up on a farm in the Tamaqua area and has been involved in farming for more than 14 years. She grows a variety of mixed vegetables in three high tunnels in Walker Township, which she sells at her roadside stand, Leiby's Farm Market and also visits the farm market in Tamaqua two days per week.Leiby also helps her father with his farming operation's vegetables and fruit.Leiby is a member of PA Farm Bureau, PA Vegetable Growers, Schuylkill County Extension Board, Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce and is active in her church.Dennis Marbarger grew up on a farm in Wayne Township and has owned and operated farms for more than 35 years. He grows approximately 340 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, alfalfa and timothy per year.Marbarger also does feed to finish for approximately 16 steer per year. He is a member of PA Farm Bureau, vice-president of the Schuylkill-Carbon Farm Bureau and currently serves as chairman of the Schuylkill County FSA Committee.George "Ben" Vaupel has been involved in different types of agriculture for more than 50 years. His farm is located in Auburn and South Manheim Township. Vaupel grows organic blueberries and strawberries and has recently begun to grow small grains, cover crops and mixed forage. He has been involved with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Forest Stewardship Program on his 120 acres of woodlands.He is a trained forest steward and promotes good forest practices. He also raises chickens for eggs and meat, as well as guinea fowl.Vaupel is an associate board member of the Schuylkill County Conservation District and a member of the Schuylkill County Conservancy.More information on county committees, such as the new 2014 fact sheet and brochures, can be found on the FSA website at

www.fsa.usda.gov/elections or at the local USDA Service Center.