Georgia Grown

Commissioner Black will focus on collaborative efforts between all sectors of the agricultural industries and how innovative approaches to new technologies and emerging markets can propel American agriculture into the 21st century.

Serving his second term, Commissioner Gary W. Black is the sixteenth Georgian to hold the office of Commissioner of Agriculture since the department's inception in 1874.

Black earned a degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Throughout his 35 year career in agriculture he has championed sound state and federal policies impacting food safety, science-based environmental stewardship and agricultural marketing.

He would rather be referred to as Lydia's husband and Ward and Caroline's dad. He and Lydia raise commercial beef cattle on the family farm in Commerce. Black serves in the Sunday school and music ministries of Maysville Baptist Church.