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Richey Seaton retires from Georgia Cotton Commission

Posted on August 28, 2020 12:00 AM

Former Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) Executive Director Richey Seaton, who led the organization since 1994, retired Aug. 1. Taylor Sills has been promoted from GCC director of public affairs to replace Seaton. Caroline Snider is the new GCC education and outreach specialist.

“Richey’s 26 years of service to Georgia’s cotton farmers and nearly 50 years of service to agriculture will not be forgotten. Richey’s support for Georgia’s cotton industry has been unwavering,” said GCC Chairman Bart Davis, a cotton farmer from Colquitt County. “On behalf of Georgia’s 3,500 cotton farmers, I want to publicly thank him for his service.”

During Seaton’s tenure, he reestablished the GCC office and staff and ushered the GCC’s programs to new heights as Georgia’s cotton acreage increased in the  past 26 years. Prior to joining the GCC, he worked for the Georgia Department of Agriculture as director of the Commodities Promotion Division.

Sills previously worked at Georgia Farm Bureau from 2012 to 2017 as a commodity specialist and GFB Young Farmers & Ranchers coordinator before joining the GCC in 2017. He is a native of Eatonton and received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, where he majored in agricultural & applied economics. Sills received an associate degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in agribusiness & agricultural economics. After graduation, Sills worked for the Georgia Federal-State Inspection Service before going to GFB. He and his wife, Jessica, live in Macon.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with Taylor as we build on the foundation that Richey has built and continue our tradition of service to cotton farmers,” said Davis.

Washington County native Caroline Snider joined the GCC in July. Snider earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Georgia College and State University along with a master’s degree in instructional technology. She also served as a graduate assistant in the GCSU Athletic Department.

The GCC, funded by Georgia cotton growers, has been coordinating research, promotion and education programs to benefit Georgia’s cotton sector since 1965. For more information about the GCC call 478-988-4235 or visit www.georgiacottoncommission.org.