Name: Sam Watson
Family: Wife – Emily / Children: Lily – 11, Lucy – 7
Hometown: Moultrie, GA
Current Town: Moultrie, GA
What Years at UGA: 2000-2002
School/Degree: College of Agriculture / B.S.A. Agricultural Education
Profession: Farmer / State Representative
Accolades: 2017 Alpha Gamma Rho Grand President’s Award, 2017 UGA 40 under 40, 2017 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, 2014 Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Freshman Legislator of the Year Award, 2012 Graduate of Leadership Georgia, 2010 College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Young Alumni Award, 2010 Georgia Trend Magazine “Movers and Shakers” in Agribusiness designee, 2009 Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Outstanding Alumni Award, 2009 Graduate of Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum

 
 
What life lessons did you learn while at UGA? 
 

“Someone once told me to “not let school get in the way of my education.” I found that to be a valuable piece of advice. The University of Georgia not only provided me with a quality education, but I also learned how to take risks and step outside of my comfort zone. So much of what I use in my career today was learned during my time at the University of Georgia, but not inside a classroom.”

 
 
What professor did you most admire (and why)?
 

“Most of my classes were in the College of Ag and the faculty always challenged us. Several names stand out in my mind, Dr. James Epperson (Ag Econ), Dr. Maynard Iverson (Ag Ed) and Dr. Josef Broder (Ag Econ). I was never in a class taught by Dr. Dean Pringle (Animal Science), but he was an advisor to my fraternity and he invested a lot of time in guiding me and several other fraternity brothers.”

 
 
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
 

“My greatest achievement is being elected to serve in the Georgia House of Representatives.”

 
 
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
 

“Hoke Smith. Smith was a statemen from Georgia and while serving as a US Senator he passed the Smith-Lever Act which established the Cooperative Extension Service. While not a farmer himself, his actions changed the landscape for rural America by providing a pipeline to educate farmers. The new knowledge shared by extension agents stabilized and grew the agricultural industry, which is the main economic driver for our state. He labored not for himself but for others. I hope that during my time as a State Representative I can have a meaningful impact on the lives of rural Georgians as well.”

 
 
Who are your heroes in real life?
 

“My father Norman Watson and both my grandfathers, Ralph Watson and Marvin Moore. They taught me you can do everything right and work hard, but there are many factors in life that are outside of your control. Working in agriculture requires me to have a strong work ethic, integrity, and the faith to know that God is in control, not me. I consider them heroes because they helped teach me this and I use it every day on the farm and in our State Capitol.”

 
 
Quote to live by:
 

“Do the Duty which lies nearest thee, which thou knowest to be a Duty! Thy second Duty will already have become clearer.” – Sir Thomas Carlyle.

“Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.”

“It’s hard to see with sweat in your eyes.”

 
 
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
 

“A vegetable harvest season that’s not too cold, not too wet, not too dry and not too hot with huge volume on a $20.00 market. This would probably lead to an upgrade in Georgia football tickets and parking.”

 
 
What is your most marked characteristic?
 

“I tend to listen more than I speak.”

 
 
What do you most value in your friends?
 

“Trustworthiness, common sense and good character.”

 
 
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
 

“I hate public speaking.”

 
 
Who are your favorite writers (and why)?
 

“Sir Thomas Carlyle – Just finished reading his Sartor Resartus and I’m hooked on his teachings!”

 
 
Fave social media and who to follow (and why)?
 

“Facebook and Jesus.”

 
 
 
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