Clarendon County’s agricultural heritage is taking center stage in this year’s race for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. With three candidates connected to the county seeking the office, The Manning Times concludes its three-part feature series spotlighting their own roots, experience in agriculture and visions for the future of the industry. This week’s installment marks the final profile in the series.
For Cody Simpson, the path from the family farm in Home Branch to leadership roles in Columbia and Washington has always been driven by the same goal: protecting South Carolina agriculture.
A fifth-generation farmer raised in Clarendon County, Simpson said the lessons he learned working alongside his father and grandfather shaped both his values and the public service roles that followed.
“Agriculture wasn’t just a profession I chose later in life — it shaped how I was raised,” Simpson said.
From an early age, he was helping raise livestock, plant row crops and care for land that had already supported generations before him.
Those early experiences, he said, gave him a firsthand understanding of both the demands and rewards of farm life — lessons that stayed with him long after childhood and continue to shape how he views agriculture today.
“Growing up in Clarendon County taught me that agriculture isn’t just an industry — it’s a way of life that supports families, strengthens communities, and drives our local economy,” Simpson said.
That foundation eventually carried him beyond the farm and into agricultural leadership at both the state and federal levels.
Simpson served as South Carolina state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency after being appointed by President Donald Trump. In that role, he worked directly with farmers across the state on conservation programs, disaster relief and agricultural policy.
He also served as agriculture adviser to Gov. Henry McMaster, helping shape policy affecting farmers, forestry and rural communities.
Those positions gave him a broader view of the challenges facing producers across South Carolina and reinforced the importance of having agricultural leaders who understand both the realities on the farm and the decisions made in government.
“My background spans from hands-on farming and leadership roles at the state and federal level,” Simpson said.
He said those experiences also gave him the opportunity to hear directly from farmers in every corner of the state — from family farms and livestock producers to larger row crop operations — and see how common challenges such as rising costs, labor shortages and development pressure are affecting rural communities across South Carolina.
Today, his work focuses on supporting farmers, advocating for policies that strengthen the state’s agricultural economy and staying connected to producers across South Carolina.
Whether spending time on the farm, meeting with farmers or working with agricultural organizations, his focus remains the same: keeping South Carolina agriculture strong for the next generation.
That mission ultimately led him to enter the race for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
“Farmers today are facing rising input costs, labor shortages, regulatory burdens, and pressure from development,” Simpson said.
Among those concerns, protecting farmland stands out.
“Once farmland is gone, it’s gone forever,” Simpson said. “Ensuring our next generation has the opportunity to farm is critical.”
If elected, his first-term priorities would include protecting farmland, supporting farmers and agribusinesses, strengthening food security, expanding market opportunities for South Carolina-grown products and encouraging the next generation of agricultural leaders through programs such as 4-H and FFA.
He said South Carolina’s agricultural future depends on supporting farms of all sizes and making sure younger farmers have the opportunity to enter the field and stay in it.
“The Commissioner of Agriculture should be the strongest advocate for farmers and rural communities,” he said. “The role isn’t about politics — it’s about service.”
In a race that has drawn three candidates connected to Clarendon County, he said the county’s strong showing reflects its deep agricultural roots and long tradition of leadership.
For Simpson, that connection runs deeper than politics or even profession. He said the values that shaped him on the family farm were reinforced through other parts of life in Home Branch, including the family’s country store, Home Branch Baptist Church and Clarendon Hall.
Those influences, he said, continue to shape both his sense of service and his desire to protect the industry that has long helped define Clarendon County and much of rural South Carolina.
“It’s more than my background; it’s who I am, and I’m committed to serving in order to protect it for generations to come,” Simpson said.
