GFB News Magazine

County Voices, Capitol Choices

by Jennifer Whittaker
Editor

Posted on October 5, 2026 12:33 AM

Georgia farmers had the opportunity to talk to state legislators about issues affecting their farms during a series of County Voices, Capitol Choices meetings Georgia Farm Bureau held across the state this spring and summer.

Legislators discussed bills the General Assembly passed in the 2026 session to benefit agriculture. GFB staff discussed efforts the organization has made this year through its Strong Farms. Strong Georgia campaign to educate state and national legislators about the economic challenges farmers are facing and the importance of taking steps to ensure agriculture remains profitable so that farming remains sustainable.

“We held these meetings to give Farm Bureau members a chance to talk one-on-one with their elected officials to discuss what they are up against on the farm,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “The meetings also gave our state legislators a chance to discuss action they took this year to help agriculture such as lowering tax rates and funding incentives to shore up Georgia’s timber industry.”

Meetings were held at BCT Gin in Quitman on April 21, Steed Dairy in Grovetown on May 11, LCCL Strawberry Farm in Rome on May 12, Glo-Crest Dairy in Clermont on July 29, Arena Acres in Perry on Aug. 7 and Kairos Farm in Brooklet on Aug. 25.

Farm Bureau thanks everyone who hosted a meeting on their farm and the farmers who attended. 

From right, GFB President Tom McCall thanks Ga. Sen. Sam Watson, Ga. Rep. John LaHood and Ga. Rep. Chas Cannon for meeting with Farm Bureau at the BCT Cotton Gin in Brooks County. /Photo by Damon Jones

Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns speaks at the County Voices, Capitol Choices meeting held at Kairos Farm in Bulloch County.  /Photo by Whitney Mooney

Ga. Rep. Shaw Blackmon, center, and Ga. Rep. Robert Dickey, chairman of the Georgia House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee, discuss ag issues during the meeting at Arena Acres in Houston County. /Photo by Alex Bradford

Sen. Bo Hatchett, a member of the Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee, discusses ag issues during the meeting held at Glo-Crest Dairy in Hall County. /Photo by Ray D’Alessio