TIFTON, GEORGIA (FARM MONITOR) — From the cotton gin to the state capitol, State Representative Jaclyn Ford says agriculture is at the center of everything she does.
From growing up on a farm, earning an agriculture degree, and spending over two decades helping run her family’s cotton gin, Ford says she remains passionate about agriculture.
“I tell everybody this cotton gin was my first baby. It’s been great. I’ve been doing it for 25 years now and have learned a lot about the industry and just what it means to the communities and rural Georgia.”
Ford says her experience in agriculture led her to get involved in industry organizations, where she saw firsthand how policy decisions impact farmers and rural communities, which ultimately pushed her to run for office.
“Agriculture is the largest industry in our state. If we sell our farmland out to big corporations, it’s not going to help our rural communities, and it’s not going to help our families in rural Georgia. That’s always the first and foremost thing on my mind.”
Ford says having lawmakers with agricultural backgrounds is critical, both for advocacy and for helping bridge the gap between producers and the public.
