Hugh Weathers Explained

Hugh Weathers
Office:Agriculture Commissioner of South Carolina
Governor:Mark Sanford
Nikki Haley
Henry McMaster
Term Start:September 14, 2004
Predecessor:Charles Sharpe
Birth Date:27 June 1956
Birth Place:Bowman, South Carolina, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Blanche Weathers
Children:3
Education:University of South Carolina (BS)

Hugh Weathers is an American politician from South Carolina. He serves as South Carolina's Commissioner of Agriculture. He has held the position since September 14, 2004. Weathers is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and career

Weathers is from Bowman, South Carolina, where he grew up on Weathers Farms, a 2000acres dairy farm.[1] He graduated from Bowman Academy as its valedictorian.[2] He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of South Carolina in 1980, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Weathers joined the family dairy business in 1980.[3] He and his brother, Landry, inherited the farm.[4]

Commissioner of Agriculture

Weathers was appointed by Governor Mark Sanford on September 14, 2004, to be the commissioner of agriculture after the incumbent commissioner, Charles Sharpe, had been accused of illegal cockfighting, lying to investigators, extortion, and money laundering.[5] [6] Weathers won the following election in 2006.[7] [8]

As commissioner of agriculture, Weathers sought to expand consumers' access and reliance on local produce. In 2006, Weathers oversaw the creation of the branding "Certified SC Grown" to highlight produce grown in South Carolina.[9] Weathers also advocated to increase the economic impact of the department to $50 billion by 2020.[10]

Weathers won reelection in the 2022 general election with 77.6% of the vote, defeating Green Party candidate David Edmond.[11] Weathers indicated that this will be his final term in office.[12]

Personal life

Weathers is married with three children and is a fourth-generation farmer.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The State 06 Jun 1983, page 20 . Newspapers.com . June 6, 1983 . November 25, 2022.
  2. Web site: The Times and Democrat 06 Jun 1974, page 11 . Newspapers.com . June 6, 1974 . November 25, 2022.
  3. Web site: The Times and Democrat 25 Dec 1988, page 43 . Newspapers.com . December 25, 1988 . November 25, 2022.
  4. Web site: The Times and Democrat 23 Apr 2012, page 12 . Newspapers.com . April 23, 2012 . November 25, 2022.
  5. Web site: Ex-lawmaker finds life after prison - Post and Courier . www.postandcourier.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075202/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20080324/PC1602/303249914 . March 4, 2016.
  6. Web site: Charles Sharpe, former Agriculture Commissioner, reports to prison.
  7. Web site: Hugh Weathers' Biography . votesmart.org . November 21, 2022.
  8. Web site: Title 46 - Agriculture CHAPTER 3 Department and Commissioner of Agriculture SECTION 46-3-40. Election; term; vacancies. .
  9. Web site: Loria . Keith . South Carolina Certified Grown means big business for growers . The Produce News . November 21, 2022.
  10. Web site: Meet the Commissioner . agriculture.sc.gov . South Carolina Department of Agriculture . November 21, 2022.
  11. Web site: 2022 Statewide General Election Election Night Reporting . scvotes.org . November 10, 2022.
  12. News: Agriculture Commissioner Seeking Final Term in Office . USN . Associated Press . November 21, 2022.