Open house planned; minority register available

There are times in everyone's journey on this planet when it is time to "shift gears" and take a slightly different "fork in the road." That could be changing jobs, getting married, going back to school, or many others.

One of those times is coming up soon for Cheryl Bennett who has been the Bourbon County Conservation District Manager since 2000. Cheryl will be retiring at the end of the year (she is already married), so will be striking out on new adventures instead of making the daily well-traveled trek to "work" at the USDA Service Center in Fort Scott.

In recognition of her years of service to the agricultural community of Bourbon County, an open house has been planned for 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the USDA Service Center, 1515 S. Judson, Fort Scott. Those interested in wishing Cheryl well in her retirement should stop by during this time. This event is being sponsored by the Bourbon County Conservation District board and the USDA Service Center staff.

AND IN OTHER USDA NEWS: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) invites minority farmers and ranchers in Bourbon County and across the nation to voluntarily join the USDA Minority Farm Register to receive information and opportunities from USDA agencies.

The new Minority Farm Register is an outreach tool to reach underserved farmers and ranchers who are not currently enrolled in USDA loan, farm or conservation programs.

The register is a shared outreach list that will help USDA, community-based organizations and minority- serving educational institutions to communicate with minority farmers and ranchers.

By joining the register, minority producers may receive outreach materials, newsletters, and program announcements from USDA agencies. They may also receive information and assistance from other USDA-approved outreach partners, such as community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and minority-serving educational institutions. USDA will carefully control access to and use of the register.

Individuals wishing to join the register must sign and date a form that provides their name and address. Providing phone numbers, e-mail address, race, ethnicity, gender and farm or ranch location will be voluntary, although the additional information increases the producer's opportunities for receiving timely assistance.

The register pamphlet with the registration form is available at the Bourbon County USDA Service Center or from approved USDA outreach partners. Completed forms may be mailed to: USDA Minority Farm Register, USDA Stop Code 0503, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250. FSA and USDA's Office of Advocacy and Outreach are jointly administering the register. Registration forms are available in Spanish (AD-2035SP) and English (AD-2035) on the FSA web site (www.fsa.usda.gov) under "Forms".

An individual may remove his or her name from the Register by writing to the Minority Farm Register, USDA Stop Code 0503, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250.

For more information, please contact the Farm Service Agency, STOP 0503, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0503 (Call 1-866-538-2610; Fax: 1-866-302-1760; email: MSDA@USDA.gov).