Hear from young Democrat seeking to challenge Andy Gipson for agriculture commissioner
An 18-year-old Jones College student and recent Quitman High School graduate could become Mississippi's next commissioner of agriculture, if he can win the approval of Mississippi voters.
Terry Rogers, who qualified for the race Wednesday afternoon at the state Democratic Party headquarters in Jackson, could take on incumbent Republican Andy Gipson in November.
"I'm running for Commissioner of Agriculture to help all Mississippians get a piece of the economic pie," Rogers said.
A number of experiences led him to believe he could serve the state as its commissioner of agriculture, Rogers said.
"Me and my dad grew up farming all type of things, just planting all types of seeds," Rogers said. "Everything from flowers, to watermelons, to cantaloupes. I help my aunt at her farm all the time, which includes horses, cows, goats. And really, I'm good friends with a bunch of poultry farmers at my school and that really helped me want to run for this race."
Regarding his age, Rogers considers himself a part of the "Joshua Generation," harkening back to the Biblical generation that was too young to remember being in Egypt, but still helped lead God's people to the Promised Land.
"If you look in the Bible, even though Moses helped his people get to the Promised Land he wasn't able to go over there with them, and as a part of the Joshua generation I will help Mississippi get over to the Promised Land, and since I'm running for agriculture commissioner, I'll help them get to the land of honey and milk," Rogers said.
The man likely to be the youngest candidate in the state for the 2023 election urged voters to think differently than they have in the past.
"Mississippians as a whole have been voting for party not policy, and with me you get policy not party," Rogers said.
Specific policies that Rogers plans to promote include the elimination of the state's grocery tax, increased support for the state's catfish and medical marijuana farms and an increased focus in youth programs to encourage young people to take up farming.
Rogers knows most people will view him as an underdog, both because of his age and his party-affiliation, but he remains confident.
"I give myself a 100% chance to win this race," Rogers said. "If they really sit down and look at my policy, we will have a new agriculture commissioner who will stand for the people, and we will have a new governor as well."
That being said, even if he loses, Rogers does not plan to step away from politics.
"Of course, I have my own ambitions," Rogers said. "I would love to serve my state in any way possible, and I will serve my state in any way possible. With that being said, I would love to win this election and I do have a true belief and a true hope and a true want to help all Mississippians in agriculture. What better way than agriculture?"
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Young candidate files to challenge incumbent agriculture commissioner
