VIEW FROM THE FIELD

very winter, 236 members of the state Legislature convene in Atlanta for the annual Georgia General Assembly. For 26 years I was honored to represent folks in and around my home of Elbert County by serving in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Despite being away from Atlanta during session, it’s still of great interest to me that we keep a close eye on what happens under the gold dome each year because every debate and each vote taken impacts our daily lives.

For those of you reading this magazine who aren’t directly connected to earning your livelihood by farming, you should know that Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has a strong and credible legislative team dedicated to helping us preserve, protect and enhance agriculture and farming. Keeping the industry that I love positioned as the largest and strongest economic driver in Georgia is essential for multiple reasons.

It’s important because we all must have a safe and abundant food supply. Plus, it is crucial to protect farmers who grow the fiber used to make our clothing and the wood produced for the homes in which we live.

While GFB provides a convincing voice for producers in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., we’re successful because of our partnership with the many lawmakers who have similar interests and those who appreciate where their food and fiber originate. Solid ag-minded lawmakers are key to our agricultural success.

One past lawmaker honored in this edition of Georgia Neighbors is now chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Sonny Perdue. Sonny came through the Georgia State Senate before serving as our 81st governor. He went on to Washington where he proved to be a significant force in agriculture’s success across global and national markets, while serving as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

We are pleased to salute Sonny and his wife, Mary, in this issue of Georgia Neighbors, and we are happy to show our appreciation for all they have done to improve agriculture.

President & CEO

TOM MCCALL, Elbert Co.

1st Vice President and South Georgia Vice President

DANIEL JOHNSON, Pierce Co.

North Georgia Vice President

BERNARD SIMS, Catoosa Co.

Middle Georgia Vice President

RALPH CALDWELL, Heard Co.

General Counsel

DUKE GROOVER

Chief Financial Officer, Corp. Treasurer & GFBMIC Exec. VP

DAVID JOLLEY

Chief Administrative Officer

JEFFREY HARVEY

Corp. Secretary & Senior Counsel

JEANNA FENNELL

Asst. Corp. Treasurer & Sr. Director of Accounting

RACHEL MOSELY

FIRST DISTRICT: Bill Bryan, Chattooga Co.; Wesley Hall, Forsyth, Co.; SECOND DISTRICT: Gilbert Barrett, Habersham Co.; Russ Moon, Madison Co.; THIRD DISTRICT: Brad Marks, Newton Co. Nora Goodman, Paulding Co.; FOURTH DISTRICT: Skeetter McCorkle, McDuffie Co.; Russ Wilburn, Barrow Co.; FIFTH DISTRICT: Leighton Cooley, Crawford Co.; Matt Bottoms, Pike Co.; SIXTH DISTRICT: James Malone, Laurens Co.; James Emory Tate, Jeff Davis Co.; SEVENTH DISTRICT: Gary Bell, Evans Co.; Ben Boyd, Screven Co.; EIGHTH DISTRICT: Scotty Raines, Turner Co.; Don Wood, Wilcox Co.; NINTH DISTRICT: Lucius Adkins, Baker Co.; Paul Shirah, Mitchell Co.; TENTH DISTRICT: David Lee, Bacon Co.; Lamar Vickers, Berrien Co. YOUNG FARMER

CHAIRMAN: Colt Hart, Franklin Co.

WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR: Kathy Sanders, Laurens Co.

GEORGIA NEIGHBORS

Director: Kenny Burgamy

Art Director: Nicollette Boydstun

Photographer: Logan Thomas

Contributors: Renee Corwine

Consulting Copy Editor: Renee Corwine

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