Hugh E. Weathers has been serving as South Carolina’s Commissioner of Agriculture since September 2004. Under Commissioner Weathers’ tenure, the Department created the Certified South Carolina and Fresh on the Menu branding programs to assist consumers in easily identifying and purchasing local South Carolina products. In 2017, Commissioner Weathers created the Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE). Thus far, ACRE has awarded over $1 million to 91 agricultural entrepreneurs, funded several industry-driven research projects, and led dozens of business workshops throughout the state. Under Commissioner Weathers’ leadership, the economic impact of agribusiness in South Carolina has grown to $51.8 billion per year, supporting 259,215 jobs statewide.

Commissioner Weathers was born and lives in Bowman, South Carolina and is a fourth-generation farmer. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 1978, earning BS Degrees in Accounting and Finance. Upon graduation, he was employed as a Corporate Banking Officer with C&S National Bank before returning to Weathers Farm. He is a partner in the family’s 80-year-old farming operation.

He is married to the former Blanche Gramling of Spartanburg County, who grew up on her family’s peach farm. They have three sons: Gill and his wife Elizabeth, Edward and his wife Anna, and Julius and his wife Sara. He has four granddaughters, Clara Elizabeth, Virginia Cunningham, Darby Cobb, and Jane McLois, and two grandsons, Ransom Hugh and Fitzhugh Julius. The Weathers are members of Orangeburg First Baptist Church.

Commissioner Weathers considers it a privilege to serve the citizens of South Carolina and to lead our state’s largest industry — agribusiness.