With 64 percent of farmers over the age of 55 compared to just 7 percent under 35—the state’s agriculture industry faces a critical workforce gap in the coming decades, according to Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. To address the need to build a workforce pool, Georgia Grown teamed with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to host the first-ever “Georgia Grown in ATL” event at the Atlanta University Center Consortium recently.
The event concluded with a panel discussion centered on expanding access to capital, strengthening resources for new and established farmers, and highlighting emerging opportunities across the agricultural sector. Students engaged directly with industry leaders, agricultural professionals, and program representatives, including Commissioner Harper, Bruce LeVell (USDA Director of Public & Private Partnerships), Alex Cordova (Deputy Director, USDA Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships), Nikki Thomas (Deputy State Executive Director, USDA Farm Service Agency), Terrance Rudolph (State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service), and Dr. Alveda King (Senior Advisor for Faith and Community Outreach, USDA). Together, these leaders underscored a shared commitment to supporting and empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders.
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