Agriculture and electric cooperatives have been closely connected for generations, and that partnership remains strong today. On September 3, Carroll EMC welcomed nearly 100 farmers, students, educators and elected officials to its annual Agribusiness Seminar which featured leaders from the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and its Law Enforcement Division.
As Carroll EMC marks its 90th anniversary, the event served as a reminder of the cooperative’s longstanding role in supporting rural communities and the agricultural operations that help drive Georgia’s economy through access to reliable electricity and broadband.
During the seminar, Dominic LaRiccia, former state representative and current Director of Field Services for the GDA, noted how the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 transformed life for many, including his own grandmother.
“She remembered vividly them [linemen] coming and setting poles down her road to her house,” LaRiccia said. “She got off the school bus and her mom said, ‘You ain’t gonna believe it.’ She let her pull that string and turn the light on. Today, we can’t even comprehend what that meant.”
The investment in rural electrification helped lay the foundation for the growth of Georgia agriculture, which today generates more than $100 billion in annual economic impact and remains the state’s largest industry.
“When you hear somebody say that agriculture is the number one industry, it’s not just the number one industry by a little bit,” LaRiccia said. “It’s the number one industry by a lot.”
LaRiccia also discussed the GDA’s role in protecting consumers and producers through food safety inspections, contamination response and other regulatory programs. Referencing recent concerns surrounding Cyclospora contamination linked to lettuce products, he explained how the department works to help monitor recalls and respond to food safety issues affecting consumers and the agricultural industry.
But regulation is only one part of the department’s mission. Many attendees were surprised to learn about the breadth of work performed by the GDA’s Law Enforcement Division, which was reinstated in 2023 under Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.
Harlan Proveaux, Director and Inspector General for the Law Enforcement Division, explained that protecting Georgia agriculture often means addressing threats far beyond the farm gate, including organized crime, fraud, labor trafficking, animal cruelty and risks to the food supply.
“National organized crime is the biggest threat that we face in Georgia,” Proveaux said. “And it’s the biggest threat we face in Georgia agriculture.”
Proveaux shared how criminal organizations increasingly use produce shipments and agricultural supply chains to conceal illegal drugs. The division also works closely with local law enforcement and animal control agencies to investigate animal cruelty and neglect cases throughout the state.
“I really appreciate Commissioner Harper being tuned in to what’s really going on and bringing this law enforcement division back,” Proveaux said. “It’s really been rewarding for me to be on this team and be a part of protecting the number one industry in our state.”