Page 14 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 1 - Winter 2024

during a Congressional Fellowship with then-U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, he “got bit by the bug” known as politics, according to Harper. Combined with the influence of his grandfather, who had served as the County Commissioner of Irwin County, it was in that moment he realized a calling to be an advocate for the industry he’d known his entire life to create a meaningful impact for his fellow farmers and foresters.
In 2013, he was elected to the State Senate representing the 7th District of Georgia. He served in that capacity for 10 years until winning the 2022 campaign to lead the state’s top industry as the Com- missioner of Agriculture.
“For this little boy that grew up running through these woods in rural South Geor- gia, to now be the head of the Department of Agriculture is humbling,” said Harper. “Those are things that growing up here, you don’t think that kind of stuff would ever happen.”
Just Getting Started
With a year under his belt in his new role, Harper has felt the excitement and importance of the work he and his team are doing in the state.
“It’s already been an awesome oppor- tunity to work with our number one industry and those individuals that are involved in this every single day to help ensure that we’re moving it in the right direction, to ensure that our farmers and producers, landowners, and foresters, and ranchers all across the state have the tools and the resources they need to be successful,” said Harper.
The work of Harper and his team of over 500 staffers at the Georgia Depart- ment of Agriculture doesn’t stop when the raw products leave the farms and forests. An integral part of their work is focused on connecting with consumers to ensure they are both protected and educated.
“Consumers can rest assured that the products they buy on the shelf at the store are safe and secure, and how they interact with the ag sector is safe and secure,” said Harper. “I think a lot of times people don’t realize the role that the department plays in our life every single day. There’s not a day goes by that the department doesn’t inter- act with you in some way. The agriculture and forestry sector obviously impact every Georgian every single day, and I think we can do a better job at telling that story.”
“There’s not a day goes by that the department doesn’t interact with you in some way. The agriculture and forestry sector obviously impact every Georgian every single day, and I think we can do a better job at telling that story.”
— Tyler Harper, Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture
In June of last year, Harper and the Department of Agriculture launched the inaugural “Georgia Grown Night,” kicking off an innovative new partnership between the Georgia Grown program and the Atlanta Braves as they took on their division rivals, the New York Mets. The concourses of Truist Park were lined with wall wraps and kiosks showcasing the state’s specialty crops, working to educate the public about the availability of fresh produce coming from their neighbors across the state. It was just one of many opportunities that Harper has capitalized on to champion the state’s top industry.
The Importance of
Georgia’s #1 Industry
The story of agriculture and forestry in the state is as rich as the soil it grows in. With an economic impact of over $74 bil- lion each year, the industry is essential as an employer, a provider, and a protector of the state’s residents and businesses.
The extensive range of raw commodi- ties produced by agriculture in Georgia, from peanuts to timber, are essential to current and future growth for the state. In order to sustain that growth, Harper is conscious of and committed to investing in younger generations and innovations to ensure the advancement of the industry.
“How do we incentivize industries to come to Georgia to ensure that we’re taking the product we produce very well and turn it into a product that the consumer can use? That’s how we can continue to make Georgia the best place for business and allow our number one
12 | GEORGIA FORESTRY
$74 BILLION
AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY’S ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
industry to succeed,” said Harper. “Mass timber, like the building at 619 Ponce, is a perfect example of where we have come in terms of innovation and technological advancement in the industry. In talking about investing in that next generation, that’s that investment in technology and innovation that gives us the opportunity to utilize what we do well, which is timber production and forestry. It’s an awesome showcase in our state. It’s pretty neat to have a Georgia Grown building.”
The innovations of agriculture and forestry go far beyond buildings. Efforts in the state are underway to synthesize sustainable aviation fuel and develop lignin-based batteries in what is now a booming electric vehicle industry in the state — efforts that provide market-driven solutions to decreasing emissions.
“The awesome thing about the job that I have is I get to help tell the story that agriculture and forestry have been sus- tainable for a long time. Livestock takes