Pate Honored for Achievements as Ag Commissioner

By Marlee Jackson

Rick Pate's down-to-earth demeanor and preference for practical solutions has helped him lead the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) for the last six years.

As commissioner, Pate has balanced regulatory responsibilities while investing in programs to help farmers. Many of those producers were on hand as Pate received the Alabama Farmers Federation Service to Agriculture Award during the organization's annual meeting Dec. 9 in Montgomery.

Pate said he's humbled to accept the award, though he quickly turns the praise toward ADAI's 350 employees.

"They'll give the award to me, and it'll say I'm winning, but it's not about me," said Pate, who was raised on a Lowndes County poultry and cattle farm. "People have told me what a good job I'm doing, and that's because of the people at the department and the job they're doing. We're a team."

Rick Pate Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Rick Pate will receive the Alabama Farmers Federation Service to Agriculture Award during the organization's 103rd annual meeting in December. Governor Kay Ivey gave remarks and participated in a ribbon cutting for the State Chemical and Pesticide Residue Lab Monday April 15, 2024 in Auburn, Ala. The newly constructed 19,000 square-foot building replaces the smaller (12,000-square-foot) Gilmer Turnham (GT) lab built in the early 1970s which has increasingly suffered from degradation of environmental systems (aging HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems). These issues have endangered ADAI's ability to maintain certifications due to temperature swings and humidity build up. The ADAI Pesticide Residue Laboratory was established to protect public health, monitor agricultural commodities for the presence of harmful pesticide residues, protect and expand Alabama's agricultural markets and protect the environment. The ADAI Chemical Laboratory is responsible for the technical portion of the regulatory process in enforcing Alabama law governing feed, fertilizer and liming materials distributed within the state. The Laboratory assists in ruling out feed as a potential cause of illness by testing samples and helps new small businesses by testing their products.
(Governor's Office /Hal Yeager)

Pate's leadership strengthened ADAI's ties with stakeholders such as the Federation. Successful programs resulted, including relief for poultry producers following the COVID-19 pandemic, assistance for cattle farmers after Hurricane Michael, reduced administrative fees for Sheep & Goat and Peanut checkoffs, and renewed commitment to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program.

Other accomplishments include the A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm mental health program; seafood processing grants; food bank donations; and a new Pesticide Residue Lab in Auburn.

His greatest legacy, however, may be Sweet Grown Alabama. The state's nonprofit agricultural branding program launched in 2019 and is 400 members strong. Pate brought together agricultural leaders to establish the independent organization, ensuring Sweet Grown Alabama continues after his tenure at ADAI.

"We set up Sweet Grown Alabama not knowing COVID would hit," Pate said. "Everyone in 2020 was talking about supply chain issues. I thought, 'Gosh, if you'll quit buying your tomatoes in Mexico and your watermelons in California and your strawberries in Arizona, we could solve 95% of supply chain issues.'"

The program's searchable database connects consumers to local farmers. Sweet Grown Alabama also links school nutrition directors to Alabama-grown goods, which has expanded the state's Farm-to-School program.

Federation President Jimmy Parnell said Pate's focus on farmers resonates with members.

"There's just something about Commissioner Pate that our members like," Parnell said. "He's friendly. He has good business sense. He cares about agriculture and has hired employees who care about agriculture. I am convinced he's one of the strongest ag commissioners this state has seen."

Pate often shares the story of Alabama agriculture at speaking engagements. He's a frequent guest at civic club meetings, represents the state during trade missions and works closely with elected officials. Pate routinely visits farms, too.

His wife, Julie, occasionally joins him on the road. Their sons, Richard and James, have fulfilling careers in construction project management and medicine, respectively. Six years ago, Pate craved that same work satisfaction after four decades in the landscape business.

Encouraged by a farmer friend, Pate sought statewide office.

"This job just lined up perfectly with the skill sets I had, the things I loved and the people I cared about," he said. "It's never felt like work."

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