Tommy Irvin has been Commissioner of Agriculture since 1969, and is past President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and served two terms as President of the Southern United States Trade Association. Prior to assuming responsibilities as Agriculture Commissioner, he served four terms as State Representative from Habersham County during which he was Administration Floor Leader, Chairman of the Industrial Relations Committee, Chairman of the Governor's Conference on Education, on the Agriculture, Education and Appropriations Committee, and later was Chief Executive Officer to the Governor. His first public office was as a member of the Habersham County Board of Education, later serving as Board Chairman and President of the Georgia School Boards Association. He is a 33rd degree Mason and Past Grand Master in the Grand Lodge of Georgia F&AM. He is also a Shriner and a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta and Aghon. He and his wife, Bernice, live on a Harbersham County farm and have five children and fourteen grandchildren. He is a member of Antioch Baptist Church.