Musella, GA |

For Robert Dickey, a fourth-generation peach farmer, agriculture isn’t just a career—it’s a way of life. It’s also what led him, unexpectedly, into public service. What started as a return home to the family farm after college eventually led Dickey down a path to the Georgia State Capitol, where he now serves as Chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

“I really didn’t have any idea I’d venture into running for office,” says Dickey. “I wanted to come back here after UGA, came back with my wife, Cindy, and started a family right here, in our family business growing peaches. But when the opportunity came up, I jumped at it.”

Since his election, Dickey has risen through the ranks and become one of the strongest voices for the state’s agricultural industry—a role he doesn’t take lightly.

“Having good farm policy and farm support in Georgia is so important,” he says. “It’s our largest industry. It employs so many Georgians. It’s the basis of our economy here, especially in rural Georgia. Georgia’s got a very diversified economy, but agriculture is the backbone of it.”

As one of just a handful of state legislators who are also active farmers, Dickey says his background helps bridge the gap between rural and metro lawmakers—something that’s been key in keeping agriculture a bipartisan priority.

“There’s eleven of us, and we’ve got each other’s back,” Dickey says. “We try to talk to each other, form good policy planning, and gather support. Our metro legislators have been very supportive of agriculture and agribusiness in this state. That’s not by accident. We have a great group in the House and Senate that want to see Georgia’s ag thrive.”

Dickey credits much of his inspiration for entering politics to his years of involvement with Georgia Farm Bureau, where he previously served as a county president.

“I was president for several years and just saw how important Farm Bureau was to making good farm policy in Georgia,” he says. “It was probably one of the biggest reasons I ran—knowing how important it is to have good voices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., for agriculture.”

With the next legislative session still months away, Dickey is already focused on what’s next. At the top of his list: protecting Georgia’s farmland.

“Agriculture is facing some headwinds,” he says. “We had a good session this past year trying to help those hurricane victims—it was tough. But I’m really worried about our agricultural land disappearing in this state. So many other interests are taking it over or using it for other purposes. I just think we’ve got to protect farmland in this state, just like we protect our natural resources, our water, our parks, and rivers. We’ve got to protect farmland.”

BY: John Holcomb