Dougherty County’s Sedrick Rowe seeks Democratic nomination for Georgia ag commissioner

ALBANY – Dougherty County will have a homegrown candidate in the race for state agriculture commissioner on the May 19 ballot in a political newcomer who is looking to be the Democratic candidate for the fall statewide election.

A rarity in being a first-generation farmer in an occupation that often is handed down in families, the 2009 Westover High School graduate is looking to help modernize farming in the state. 

His 30-acre organic farming operation includes peanuts, and he was an early adopter of growing hemp, which he raised until the only processing facility in the area closed.

The owner of Rowe Organic Farms spoke with a Herald reporter at a Thursday meeting of the Dougherty County Democratic Committee, a meeting at which several other candidates in local and legislative races addressed the audience.

In 2025 Georgia farmers planted the most peanuts in any year for decades, but the 1,000 or so acres dedicated to organic growing is dwarfed by the huge number of acres dedicated to traditional growing methods using pesticides and herbicides.

“I wanted to be a founding member of the club for finding a way for organic row crops to be grown in Georgia,” said Rowe, who is a member of the small number of farmers who make up the Georgia Organic Peanut Association. “I knew growing organic peanuts was going to be a challenge.”

Organic legumes are used in making health-conscious products like peanut butter and in mixes for filling wild-animal feeders.

“It was a viable market,” Rowe, who started farming in 2018, said. “Being a small farmer, I had to think about the markets. When Georgia first legalized hemp, I jumped in it, still organic. That was a market that started out great, but Georgia didn’t (develop) the processors.”

The candidate has had policy experience advocating for young and minority farmers at the congressional level, where he talked about the Farm Bill and what can be done to assist young farmers and address the generational gap between farmers. 

He also served as part of the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers when he was appointed to the position by former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack. That committee was paused by the Trump administration.

“What really got me into the race was when I said I want to make a difference,” Rowe said. “There’s a disconnect in farming between city and rural areas, but it should not be that way. I wanted to bridge that gap. I also want to educate people on farming and also create some opportunities in agriculture.”

A graduate of Fort Valley State University, where he played football, Rowe received a bachelor’s degree in plant science and went on to earn a master’s degree. He is currently working on his dissertation for a PhD in integrated bioscience. During his time in college, he began working on an organic farm during his senior year in college.

In his spare time, Rowe serves as a football coach in the Southern United American Athletic Union. It is the only AAU league in the state and has about 2,000 players ages 6 to 12 in 13 counties, he said.

He also is a hunter who said that feral hogs are a big threat to farmers.

“Being a first-generation farmer, I didn’t inherit a farm,” Rowe said. “I got to go through all the trials and tribulations small farmers go through.”