Alto, GA |

On the rolling hills of Hall County, nestled in the heart of Northeast Georgia, Jaemor Farms is more than just a name—it’s a legacy. For State Senator Drew Echols, it’s where his family’s story, now five generations strong, continues to unfold.

“It’s a family-owned, fifth-generation business,” said Echols. “And both my kids are working here now. Cohen, when he’s out of school, and Chloe’s at the College of Ag—and she’s working here as well. My wife Shelly works on the weekends. So, it has been handed down, and it’s just a pleasure. It’s a blessing and a curse to work on a family farm.”

What began with broilers and 40 acres of peaches has grown into a 150-acre peach operation, with a robust agritourism component and on-site retail. But beyond running the farm, Echols wears another hat—representing Georgia’s 49th District in the State Senate. It’s a path that began on a Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers trip to Washington, D.C., when he was just 21.

“I went up there with a group of young farmers from all over the state,” Echols recalled. “Lobbied Congress on several issues. I remember vividly that immigration was one of those. So, you know, that I guess lit a fire and made me want to become more involved.”

That early exposure to advocacy set him on a path of public service. Years later, Echols found himself more engaged at the county level—attending zoning meetings, collaborating with commissioners, and understanding the importance of bringing agriculture to the legislative table.

“Just really wanting to be involved,” he explained. “Not only from an agriculture’s perspective—obviously that’s near and dear to my heart. Sometimes agriculture doesn’t get brought to the table when it comes to business-type legislation. So, I wanted to be involved in that process.”

Now, as a lawmaker, Echols is using his platform to bridge the gap between the farm gate and the gold dome—making sure his colleagues understand the complexities farmers face beyond planting and harvesting.

“People don’t understand where their food comes from. They also don’t understand the regulatory burdens, the tax burdens, the insurance—that we face, just like a normal business,” he said. “Then you’ve got labor issues, which are mostly federal, but then you’ve got the X factor. They always call weather the X factor, and that’s something that’s always on our mind as farmers.”

As both a grower and a legislator, Echols is uniquely positioned to tell that story—one rooted in the soil of Northeast Georgia, but relevant across the entire state.

By: John Holcomb