Tas Smith, who has led Georgia Farm Bureau’s advocacy efforts at the national level since 2012, has been named the Georgia Farm Service Agency state director.
 
“Georgia’s farmers and Georgia Farm Bureau have benefitted greatly from Tas’ work on their behalf at the state and national levels,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long. “He has worked tirelessly to build relationships with state and federal policy makers to make sure that farmers’ concerns were heard. We certainly hate to lose him, but we know he’ll do a fantastic job serving Georgia’s farmers with the FSA. We wish him well.”
 
As a part of GFB’s Public Policy team, Smith, has worked to promote agricultural causes at the Georgia and U.S. capitols. A native of Taylor County, he came to Georgia Farm Bureau in 2005 as a legislative specialist. In 2012 he was named GFB National Affairs Specialist. Earlier this year he was promoted to Assistant Public Policy Director for Legislative Programs.
 
Georgia Farm Bureau’s volunteer members actively participate in local, district and state activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors. GFB also has 20 commodity advisory committees that give the organization input on issues pertinent to the major commodities grown in Georgia.  

GFB offers its members a wide variety of benefits, including insurance, but enrollment in any of the member benefits is optional and not a requirement for membership. Because consumers have a stake in Georgia having a vibrant farm economy, being a farmer is not a requirement for membership.