Bowman dairy farmer and S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers says he will run for re-election in November 2010.

"I am going to run for re-election to continue building upon what we have started," Weathers said. "I think we have gotten some good things initiated on the part of agriculture, forestry and the state. I hope to continue to build on that."

Rumors circulated earlier this year that Weathers might be considering a run for governor and that he was a favorite candidate of current Gov. Mark Sanford.

"I don't know who started that rumor," Weathers said. "I enjoy what I do and comparing it to a football team, if you are a running back, you don't have to be a quarterback. I enjoy being a running back."

The campaign will officially kick off at a barbecue fund-raiser Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Orangeburg home of Jim and Karen Roquemore.

A Bowman native, Weathers co-owns a dairy and milk-delivery operation with his brother, Landy.

Weathers was appointed to fill the agriculture post in 2004 by Sanford after previous Commissioner Charlie Sharpe was arrested after involvement with a cockfighting ring.

In 2006, he beat Democrat and Calhoun County pig farmer Emile DeFelice. The state commissioner of agriculture serves a four-year term. As of late September, there were no other candidates vying for the position.

"I enjoy the challenges of it (being commissioner)," Weathers said. "I see progress and, when you see progress, you get reinvigorated to work a little harder."

In the latest disclosure reports from the S.C. State Ethics Commission, Weathers had a campaign balance of $22,537.78.

Weathers said the decision to seek re-election was made after consultation with family. With his nephew, Landrum, as well as additional farm help, he is confident the dairy business is in good hands.

Weathers said he hopes by the end of the year to have a target plan for the next decade of the place agriculture will have at the table in the state's economy.

"It will take attention to investment and incentives for agriculture to grow," Weathers said.

For the next four years, Weathers said he is ready to build upon the past four, especially the continuance of the program initiated under his leadership of promoting the state's agriculture products with Certified South Carolina.

"What we need to do is get our program sustained over several years to get the brand identified for South Carolina agriculture when consumers are out making their food-buying decisions," Weathers said.

Weathers also touted a number of other efforts he would like to see move forward, including the state's promotion of alternative energies and agritourism,

"We need to work to keep aquaculture," Weathers said. "It is a growing industry and we need to keep working docks for ... seafood."

Weathers said he would also like to see increased incentives for cogeneration of electricity including forestry products.

"This would be a way to utilize our forestry products and be more competitive than we are doing now," Weathers said, adding that he sees much potential for the state's agribusiness. "We think we can add 50 percent to the economy with the impact of agribusiness in the next 10 years."

Weathers said he is to grow the relationship with restaurants throughout the state in attracting them to the Certified South Carolina program. He also plans to enhance the Farm to School program, which educates children about the importance of agriculture in their daily lives.

Weathers touted his accomplishments over the past four years.

"We are opening a new farmers market in April," he said. "This will be a state-of-the art, first-class facility and will highlight agriculture in this state. It is a great way for farmers and shoppers to interact."

Weathers also said there are twice as many community markets open today as there were five years ago and that there are farmers markets on college campuses such as the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

"We think it is a critical time for young folks of college age to make positive options about food choices and about agriculture," he said.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com

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