Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss received the 2018 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Commodity Award during the GFB Commodity Conference, held Aug. 9 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus. The GFB Commodity Award, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given to individuals who have supported and promoted Georgia agriculture.

“Senator Chambliss was a strong advocate for Georgians and Georgia agriculture during his 20 years in Congress. His work on four farm bills was not only critical for Georgia’s farmers, but for every American citizen. He played a major role in forming agriculture policy that’s still crucial to farmers today,” GFB President Gerald Long said. “His passion and work ethic are an inspiration to us all, and we will forever be appreciative for his countless contributions to our state.”

Chambliss, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Georgia’s 8th District in 1994, served on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995-2002. He played an integral role in developing the section of the 1996 farm bill that deals with the crops and livestock farmers produce. He chaired the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities & Risk Management while the 2002 farm bill was developed. In this role, Chambliss worked closely with then House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest and Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm to reform the federal crop insurance program to make it more affordable and an effective risk management tool for farmers. When work began on the 2002 farm bill, Chambliss conducted hearings across the U.S. to receive input from farmers as to which farm bill programs did and did not work.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized by Georgia Farm Bureau,” Chambliss said. “Farm Bureau is the premier agriculture organization in the country and certainly in our state. Agriculture has been such a huge part of my life. This means an awful lot to me for any number of reasons.”

Before Chambliss ran for Congress in 1994, he saw how agriculture drove the economy in Southwest Georgia as he practiced law in Moultrie and raised a family.

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