FAIRHOPE — With gas prices on the rise, Alabamians can rest assured they are getting the exact amount of fuel they pay for. The Department of Agriculture and Industries inspects fuel pumps across the state to ensure they are calibrated correctly, and that is just one aspect of what the department does to protect consumers.
Since 2019, Rick Pate has been the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, but that will change in 2027. Pate is term-limited and is running for lieutenant governor. Three Republican candidates are vying for his position.
Douglas Mayor Corey Hill, farmer and businesswoman Christina Woerner McInnis and State Sen. Jack Williams (R-Wilmer) are running for Commissioner.
While Williams was in Montgomery on Thursday for the last day of the 2026 Legislative Session, Hill and McInnis attended the Eastern Shore Republican Women (ESRW) luncheon in Fairhope to participate in a forum.
McInnis, a fifth-generation farmer, was born and raised in Baldwin County, where her family owns one of the nation’s leading turf grass farms. She is the founder of AgriTech Corp, which provides SoilKit365.
McInnis said ag leaders must look out for children and farmers. She presented her five-point plan as Agriculture Commissioner: Strengthening the Farm Bill and nutrition programs, protecting Alabama farmland, securing the next generation of farmers, growing Sweet Grown Alabama and streamlining grants for farmers.
“The farmer wants to be on the tractor and do what the farmer does best, but there are so many programs, state, federal, and local, and they're changing constantly,” McInnis said. “We need a headhunter, a voluntary grant portal headhunter that's going out there to find the dollars, find the programs, keep the money, put the money into our schools, our farmers, and our businesses.”
Hill, a farmer and grocery store owner from Marshall County, has experience in poultry and cattle, and wants to ease regulations on farmers and ensure food safety. He urged citizens to buy local and support Alabama farmers. Hill said after growing up on a farm, he knows how impactful every local purchase is.
“At our grocery store, we buy from all the local farmers and sell those goods at our store,” said Hill. “A lot of chain stores can't do that. So, I'd encourage you to go to the farmer's market and shop and check out your local independent grocery stores.”
Being on the Gulf Coast for Thursday’s luncheons, both candidates emphasized the importance of leveraging Alabama’s resources and properly labeling seafood from other countries.
“You know, I might get told, if I'm your Ag Commissioner, that I can't do this when they go up to the Supreme Court, but I'm going to do my best to ban those foreign foods from coming into this country, in this state,” Hill said.
“In Baldwin County, I tell you, we are spoiled,” said McInnis. “And going back to the Shrimp Fest and how we can test for other things, let's stay diligent on that. I mean, I went to dinner with somebody the other day in Foley, and before they even ordered, they said, ‘I need to know, make sure that's Gulf Coast shrimp before I get that taco.’ Ask where things come from. Protect our Alabama farmers and purposely go to find that food. It's grown safe, and let's continue to do that even better.”
The primary election is May 19, and the primary runoff will be June 16.
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