Letter To The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department Of Agriculture

Letter

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, with recommendations for appointments to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) positions in Illinois. Durbin has recommended Colleen Callahan Burns of Kickapoo, Illinois for State Director of Rural Development and Scherrie V. Giamanco of Mt. Vernon, Illinois for State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency. Additionally, the following five Illinoisans were recommended by Durbin to serve on the Farm Service Agency Illinois State Committee: Darell Sarff of Chandlerville, Illinois; Jill Appell of Altona, Illinois; Ken Chase of Rockford, Illinois; Gerardo (Jerry) Jimenez of Cobden, Illinois; and Joyce Matthews of Nokomis, Illinois.

"It is with pride that I recommend these seven Illinoisans to the Secretary of Agriculture," said Durbin. "Their lifelong experience in many facets of Illinois agriculture will allow them to be effective leaders within the Department of Agriculture. I look forward to working with them, Secretary Vilsack and President Obama on issues of importance to American and Illinois agriculture."

Rural Development provides financial assistance through guaranteed loans, direct loans and some grant funds to individuals, public bodies, nonprofits, Native American tribes, and cooperatives in rural areas. They work with many local, regional, state and other federal agencies and groups to help provide a starting point to address business, community or housing needs.

The Farm Service Agency aims to stabilize farm income, help farmers conserve land and water resources, provide credit to new or disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and help farm operations recover from the effects of disaster. The Farm Service Agency uses a unique system under which federal farm programs are administered locally - a grassroots approach gives farmers a much-needed say in how Federal actions affect their communities and their individual operations.

Text of the letter appears below:

February 9, 2009

The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary
U.S Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W
Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I write today to recommend several people for Department of Agriculture (USDA) jobs in my home state of Illinois. I appreciate your consideration of these well qualified individuals for USDA - Illinois positions.

Rural Development

I recommend Colleen Callahan Burns of Kickapoo, Illinois, for State Director of Rural Development. Colleen has been a respected voice for Illinois agriculture for more than 30 years. Colleen, a University of Illinois graduate, raises purebred Angus cattle on her family farm in Peoria County. She is an award winning farm broadcaster who remains active in animal agriculture and in her community.

Farm Service Agency

I recommend Scherrie V. Giamanco of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, for State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency. Scherrie has worked in the FSA Illinois State office for more than 15 years, including her current role as Price Support Program Chief. She earned Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Scherrie has more than 35 years of experience in agriculture/rural development-related fields, including two years working for U.S. Senator Paul Simon as Director of Special Projects.

FSA State Committee

The following five people are recommended to serve on the FSA Illinois State Committee:

1) Darell Sarff of Chandlerville, Illinois. (Chairman)
Darell is a Central Illinois grain and vegetable farmer. He is a past board member of the Illinois Farm Bureau

2) Jill Appell of Altona, Illinois.
Jill is the former Illinois State Director of USDA Rural Development and the past president of the National Pork Producers Council. She farms in Knox County.

3) Ken Chase of Rockford, Illinois.
Ken works for the Rockford Mutual Insurance Company and handles an agricultural portfolio.

4) Gerardo (Jerry) Jimenez of Cobden, Illinois.
Jerry runs Rancho Bella Vista, a farm that sells a variety of specialty peppers, jams, jellies, salsas, and spreads.

5) Joyce Matthews of Nokomis, Illinois.
Joyce is the former chair of the FSA Illinois State Committee. She currently serves on the Montgomery County Board.

Mr. Secretary, I appreciate your consideration of these seven well-qualified individual to serve in USDA positions in Illinois. I look forward to working with you and President Obama on issues of importance to American agriculture.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

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