Sullivan County farmer named to New Hampshire FSA committee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture named five leaders to serve on the New Hampshire Farm Service Agency state committee, a move that brings Sullivan County representation to decisions affecting federal farm programs and county-level operations. The appointments, announced Jan. 14, put a locally based dairy farmer in a role that will influence program delivery and producer outreach across the state.

Gary Dwight LeClair of Claremont was named as a member of the committee. A lifelong New Hampshire resident, LeClair began farming in 1973 and expanded his dairy operation beginning in 1978. His selection provides a direct line from Sullivan County producers to the state-level body charged with overseeing county committees and resolving program delivery appeals.

Kathleen Marie Sherman of Center Conway was named chair, and Daniel Franklin Hicks III of Londonderry was also appointed as a member. State FSA committees typically consist of three to five members, including a designated chairperson, who together supervise implementation of federal agriculture programs at the state and county level. Members are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins as part of the administration’s Farmers First commitment.

State committee responsibilities include oversight of farm programs, county committee operations, resolving appeals from producers about program delivery, and maintaining cooperative relationships with industry stakeholders. For local farmers in Sullivan County and neighboring towns, that oversight can affect enrollment windows, disaster assistance decisions, and the administration of price support or conservation programs that touch daily farm operations and household budgets.

LeClair’s long experience in dairy farming means he brings practical knowledge of milk production cycles, equipment costs, and the seasonal cash-flow realities many local producers face. That background could shape how the committee prioritizes outreach and resolves disputes that arise from program implementation at county offices. It also offers Sullivan County producers a clearer path to raise concerns about program access, paperwork burdens, and eligibility determinations.

For readers here, the new appointments mean a closer connection between Claremont’s farm community and the state-level administrators who influence how federal dollars and services reach county farms. Expect county FSA staff to coordinate with the state committee and to circulate information about upcoming program deadlines and county-level meetings. Over the coming months the committee will undertake routine oversight and stakeholder engagement—actions that will determine how quickly producers can access assistance and how county concerns are escalated.