Standing Strong with Georgia's Agriculture & Farmers

Agriculture isn’t just an industry in District 157. It is our history, our way of life, and the absolute lifeblood of our local economy. From the world-famous Vidalia sweet onion fields of Glennville to the sprawling timberlands of Appling County and the robust poultry operations across our region, the hard-working growers of Southeast Georgia literally feed and clothe the world. When our farmers are thriving, our main streets are bustling, our schools are funded, and our communities are strong.

But today, our farmers are facing unprecedented, compounding challenges. We are witnessing a slow, quiet crisis unfolding across our rural counties. Rising input costs, high interest rates, unpredictable weather patterns, and relentless federal overreach have made it increasingly difficult to keep family farms in operation across generations. When a multi-generational family farm is forced to sell out to a massive corporate conglomerate or a real estate developer, we don’t just lose acreage. We lose a piece of our community’s soul.

As your next State Representative, I will make sure the voices of our growers are heard loud and clear in the halls of the State Capitol in Atlanta. We don’t need more bureaucratic red tape; we need immediate financial relief, practical resources, and a deep respect for the agricultural profession.

The Generational Pressure on Family Farms

One of the most pressing issues I hear about when visiting farms in Tattnall and Jeff Davis counties is the difficulty of passing the farm down to the next generation. It is a heartbreaking reality that many young people who want to farm simply cannot afford to.

The staggering cost of equipment, land, and fertilizer, combined with crushing estate taxes and the volatility of commodity prices, creates an almost insurmountable barrier to entry for young farmers. When the older generation retires, they are often forced to sell their land to out-of-state corporate farming operations simply to pay off debt or cover estate taxes.

If we want to preserve the rural character of Southeast Georgia, the state must step in to protect the family farm model. We need aggressive legislative action to ensure that Georgia’s farmland remains in the hands of Georgia families.

My Commitments to District 157 Growers

When I am in Atlanta, I will be a relentless advocate for our agricultural sector. My agricultural policy platform is built on delivering concrete, tangible relief to the people who work the land:

1. Permanent Tax Relief on Agricultural Inputs

Farming is a capital-intensive business, and the state should not be profiting off the essential materials required to produce our food. I will work aggressively to expand and make permanent the state-level sales tax exemptions on all essential farming inputs. This includes seed, fertilizer, feed, agricultural diesel, and heavy equipment. By lowering the upfront cost of production, we can immediately improve the profit margins for local growers and help them weather the storm of national inflation.

2. Defending Our Water Rights

Water is the most critical resource for our agricultural sector. Without reliable access to water, there is no Vidalia onion crop. I am deeply concerned by the growing trend of external regulators and urban centers attempting to dictate how rural Georgia manages its water resources. I will fiercely fend off any state or federal water regulations that threaten to stifle our agricultural production or prioritize the needs of Atlanta over the needs of District 157. Our local farmers are the best stewards of the land and water, and they must retain local control.

3. Fostering the Next Generation of Farmers

We cannot secure the future of Georgia agriculture without investing heavily in the young people who will lead it. I am a staunch supporter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H programs that are so vital to our local middle and high schools. I will partner with local school districts to ensure these programs receive full, robust state funding. Furthermore, I will advocate for state-sponsored low-interest loan programs specifically designed to help young and first-time farmers acquire land and equipment, creating a viable, profitable path into modern agriculture.

4. Expanding Agricultural Infrastructure

Getting our products from the field to the market efficiently requires modern infrastructure. I will push for targeted state investments to improve our rural farm-to-market roads and bridges, which are often overlooked in the state transportation budget. Additionally, I will support the expansion of rural broadband, which is no longer a luxury but an absolute necessity for modern precision farming technologies that improve crop yields and reduce waste.

Standing in the Gap

When our farmers succeed, Georgia succeeds. It is really that simple.

I understand the sweat, the stress, and the sheer determination required to make a living off the land. You deserve a representative who doesn’t just treat agriculture as a talking point, but as the foundational pillar of our district’s economic survival. I will always stand in the gap to protect our growers, and I promise to be your strongest ally in the Georgia House of Representatives.