Wayne Simmons, Roy Pearce Appointed To Farm Service Agency Committee

USDA Names Trump Administration Appointees to the Florida Farm Service Agency State Committee

The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the appointment of five leaders in agriculture to serve on the Florida USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee. New committee members include Wayne Simmons of LaBelle and Roy Pearce of Okeechobee.

Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and, in support of the Trump Administration’s Farmers First commitment, members of the FSA state committee are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders and keeping producers informed about current FSA programs.

Each FSA state committee is comprised of three to five members including a designated chairperson. 

The individuals appointed to serve on this committee for Florida are:

Robert N. Bell, Chair (Ft. Mead) – Bell is a second‑generation commercial beekeeper with over 40 years of experience in apiculture and farming. He produces natural orange blossom honey and provides nationwide crop pollination services. He has also served several terms on his local FSA county committee.

Mack Glass, Member (Marianna) – Glass is general manager of his ranch where he oversees timber, cattle, and production agriculture operations. He was previously appointed to the FSA state committee (2018–2020).

Kristen Hitchcock, Member (Lakeland) – Hitchcock is the chief financial officer of one of Florida’s largest family-owned farming operations. She is a graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (Class XII) and is active in agricultural policy and advocacy.

Roy Matt Pearce, Member (Okeechobee) – Pearce is an eighth-generation rancher and dedicated conservationist who manages cow/calf operations. He has served on many agricultural boards, including the FSA county committee as Chairman

Wayne Simmons, Member (Labelle) – Simmons owns and manages 250 acres of Hamlin and Valencia oranges, mangoes, and avocados. He also oversees 125 acres of timber and recreational land in Georgia.

FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. 

For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.