Alabama farmer Monica Carroll will bring decades of agricultural experience, plus a passion for serving people, to her new role as the state’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director. Appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Carroll begins May 5.
“When we have farmers who come in and look for our programs, I can relate to them,” Carroll said. “I have lived that life, so I know how important it will be that we get programs out there to farmers as fast as possible.”
A subset of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSA handles critical programs related to conservation, natural disasters and risk management. Carroll said she looks forward to supporting a key facet of FSA’s work — staff.
“I’m excited about our employees at FSA,” she said. “They get it. We have a lot of good employees who care about what we do every day. I’m excited about getting to know them and letting them know, as a farmer, how much we appreciate them and what they do for farmers every day.”
Carroll and her husband, Chris, have firsthand knowledge of FSA’s significance. Their diversified 4C Land & Cattle Co. outside Ozark in Dale County includes stocker cattle, poultry, row crops, hay and timber. Their children — daughter Brittany (Blake) Gulledge and son Blake (Savanna) Carroll — are involved on the farm, too.
As executive director, Carroll will work closely with the FSA State Committee, a panel of farmers tasked with implementing federal programs. Carroll chaired that committee during the previous Trump administration.
Carroll’s appointment comes at a critical time for Alabama agriculture. Farmers are facing the worst economic crisis since the 1980s; a relief program passed last year is being implemented; and Congress is expected to draft a long-overdue farm bill later this year.
Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell said it is critical to have a farmer at the helm of FSA during trying times.
“Monica understands Alabama agriculture,” Parnell said. “That’s important. We’re excited to have a leader in place who understands the tough times our farmers are facing. We believe her leadership will have a profound impact on how this agency helps Alabama farmers and landowners improve their land, livelihood and legacy.”
Carroll, a longtime leader in the Federation, has extensive relationships with producers across the state and advocates for ag literacy through the State Women’s Leadership Committee. She and Chris were named Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family in 2006. They attend Ariton Baptist Church.
Courtesy of the Alabama Farmers Federation.
