Hugh Weathers

[2] He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of South Carolina in 1980, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

[4] Weathers was appointed by Governor Mark Sanford on September 14, 2004, to be the commissioner of agriculture after the incumbent commissioner, Charles Sharpe, had been accused of illegal cockfighting, lying to investigators, extortion, and money laundering.

[7][a][8] As commissioner of agriculture, Weathers sought to expand consumers' access and reliance on local produce.

[9] Weathers also advocated to increase the economic impact of the department to $50 billion by 2020.

[10] Weathers won reelection in the 2022 general election with 77.6% of the vote, defeating Green Party candidate David Edmond.

Governor Nikki Haley and Hugh Weathers (right)