“A leader is someone who sets an example for others to emulate.”
-Coach Micheal Haynes
MEET DESHAWN
ROOTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURE
DeShawn L. Blanding is a food and agriculture policy advocate, cooperative business leader, and beginning farmer. His life’s work is committed to building a future where care for land and people are inseparable. He believes that stewardship and service are the examples for others to follow, not extraction and exploitation.
He is the grandson of farmworkers and a fourth-generation farmer, and brings his lived experience to his work. Keep scrolling to learn more!
REARED WITH AGRICULTURAL VALUES
DeShawn grew up in Silver and Manning, South Carolina, two rural communities in Clarendon County. At an early age, his parents - Carlton and the late Barbara Ann Blanding - instilled in him the values of faith, hard work, and respect for others.
His mother grew up working on a local farm “to buy school clothes,” and his father grew up on the family’s farm. His paternal grandfather, a 4th-generation farmer, faced such discrimination and hardships as a small Black farmer in the South that he encouraged his kids to find another profession outside agriculture. Because of this, DeShawn often says, “I didn’t get to grow up on the farm… I grew up where the farm used to be,” something he always wanted to change.
a proven SERVANT LEADER
DeShawn continued his interest in farming and agriculture through the FFA - Future Farmers of America. As a high school student, he was the youngest President of the Manning FFA chapter, serving for two terms. As a senior, he was elected as the South Carolina FFA state vice president.
As a college student in 2016, DeShawn was elected as the first and only National FFA Officer to represent South Carolina since 1967, leading over 650,000 FFA students. His FFA advisor and agriculture teacher, Coach Micheal Haynes, taught him true servant leadership: “Leadership is about setting an example others can emulate.” And that lesson continues to guide his life.
He obtained a bachelor’s in agricultural and environmental systems (agribusiness) from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and a Master of Arts in public policy (philosophy and social policy) from The George Washington University.
expert in AGRICULTURAL POLICY
After college, DeShawn worked in Washington, DC. He was a senior policy staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives, leading the Democratic agenda and negotiations on many issues: farm credit, local/regional food systems, organic and healthy foods, ag innovation, urban agriculture, specialty crops, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, civil rights, and rural health and economic development.
Before working in the House, he led policy advocacy for the Rural Coalition and worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He also worked as a soil conservation aide for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services agency, traveling to various areas to help farmers implement best practices to protect the environment.
COMMITTED TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE
He recently worked as the senior Washington representative for the Food and Environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). In this role, DeShawn worked to educate administrative officials, members of Congress, and the public on how to build a food and farming system that is healthy, sustainable, and just, bridging the gap between ecological sciences and agricultural production.
DeShawn is the President and Founding Partner of AgQuity Solutions, a consulting firm that helps organizations develop advocacy tools. AgQuity provides policy and advocacy advice and support on food, agricultural, and environmental issues from a team of people who have deep experience in public policy, advocacy, and government.
Now, he’s running to be YOUR next South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture!
The photos below are available to download for media use. For recent press releases, view our press releases page. For inquiries, email media@blandingforsc.com
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