Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (also sometimes referred to as the MDAC) is a government department of Mississippi, headquartered in Jackson. MDAC regulates agricultural-related businesses within Mississippi, as well as promotes Mississippi products throughout the world.[1] To fulfill these goals, the department was created by the Mississippi Legislature in 1906.[2]
- The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce abbreviates to MDAC. For all other references see MDAC.
| Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce of Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| Term length | 4 years |
| Formation | 1906 |
| First holder | Henry Edward Blakeslee |
| Website | mdac |
The Commissioner of MDAC is an elected office. The position is contested every four years at the same time as the gubernatorial election.[2] The commissioner regulates agriculture and aquaculture in the state and promotes their products.[3]
Commissioners of Agriculture and Commerce, 1906–present
| No. | Agriculture Commissioner | Term in office | Party | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Henry Edward Blakeslee | 1906 – 1916 | Democratic | [4] |
| 2 |  |
Peter Parley Garner | 1916 – 1928 | Democratic | [4] |
| 3 |  |
J.C. Holton | 1928 – 1940 | Democratic | [4] |
| 4 |  |
Silas Corley | 1940 – 1968 | Democratic | [4] |
| 5 |  |
Jim Buck Ross | 1968 – 1996 | Democratic | [4][5] |
| 6 |  |
Lester Spell | 1996 – 2012 | Democratic (1996 – 2005) | [4][6] |
| Republican (2005 – 2012) | |||||
| 7 |  |
Cindy Hyde-Smith | 2012 – 2018 | Republican | [4] |
| 8 | |
Andy Gipson | 2018 – present | Republican | [4] |
