Georgia has had the same Agricultural Commissioner for many years.  In fact outgoing Agricultural Commissioner Tommy Irvin, who has served for 41 years in that post, was the longest tenured state-wide official in the United States when he chose not to run for re-election.  For the first time in Georgia history a Republican, Gary Black will be taking over the post.

Black has made news this week with the announcement that he will be removing art-work from the Department of Agriculture building that has been there for over 50 years.  One of the paintings depicts slaves working in the fields and another shows Native Americans partially clothed. 

Black said that the pictures "don’t represent modern agriculture in Georgia."  The pictures were originally commissioned to show the history of agriculture in Georgia.  Georgia has the oldest Department of Agriculture in the United States.