Republican Nate Sheets priorities in Texas Agriculture Commissioner race

Republican Nate Sheets from McKinney says reducing regulations, supporting agricultural businesses and improving school nutrition would be among his priorities if elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner in November.

Sheets founded Nature Nate's honey company and says his experience in business has influenced his approach to the office.
He served six years in the Navy and worked in Christian ministry before turning a beekeeping hobby into a full-time business in 2010.
Sheets says the company eventually grew to 120,000 beehives and became a leading honey brand in the United States.
"But there's never been an Ag Commissioner who's taken a small, single beehive and turned it into 120,000 beehives, number one brand in America like we did in Nature Nate's," Sheets said.

Department leadership and regulations

Sheets says he would make changes to the leadership and operations of the Texas Department of Agriculture. He wants the agency to place greater emphasis on business development while continuing its regulatory responsibilities.

"Second thing we're going to do is we're going to go in and we're going to deregulate, make it easier to be in business in Texas in agriculture, and lower fees," Sheets said.

Sheets also wants to make changes to the GO TEXAN program, which promotes Texas agricultural products and businesses.
His proposal includes developing a marketplace to connect agricultural producers with consumers and provide additional opportunities for direct sales.
"It's marketing, it's sales, because that's what farmers need. They need marketing, and they need sales, and they need profit. And consumers need affordability, and they need to know who made their food," Sheets said.

School nutrition and agricultural production

Sheets says improving school nutrition would be another priority.
He wants Texas, which he says currently ranks 44th in the nation, to rank among the top 10 states in school nutrition.
He also discussed the financial challenges facing agricultural producers and the importance of maintaining domestic food production.
"But we have to do it to where farmers can actually stay in business, not just survive, but thrive," Sheets said.

Leadership approach

Sheets says he would rely on an experienced leadership team to oversee department operations and develop programs.
He has been traveling through rural Texas to meet with farmers and ranchers and says he wants to continue hearing directly from producers if elected.
Sheets also discussed how he believes his performance should be evaluated.
"And I told the farmers, I said, 'Listen, at year three, if I am not getting it done, if I'm not a good Ag Commissioner, let's go find the right guy,'" he said.
Sheets faces Democrat Clayton Tucker and Libertarian Austin Kelly in the November 3 general election.