David Bridges

Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame

2025 Inductee

Join us in celebrating David Bridges, who was inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame on March 21, 2025, at the 69th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Alumni Association Awards and Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame Ceremony.

Bridges is a visionary leader in agricultural education and research. A former CAES assistant dean, he continues to advocate for rural communities as interim director of Georgia’s Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.

A legacy of agricultural education and rural advocacy

David Bridges, a native of rural Georgia, has dedicated his career to advancing agricultural education and research. His roots in Terrell County have profoundly influenced his life's work, instilling in him a deep commitment to rural communities and agricultural development.

Bridges' research, advocacy, leadership and program development have significantly impacted Georgia's agricultural landscape. His expertise in defending the safety and demand for Georgia peanuts earned him recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Peanut Commission, which awarded him a Distinguished Service Award. His pioneering work on weed control in tobacco led to the registration of two novel herbicides for use in Georgia tobacco fields.

As the assistant dean for CAES on the UGA Tifton campus, Bridges was instrumental in establishing undergraduate degrees and increasing the number of graduate students in Tifton. He also oversaw construction of the C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park and the Tifton Campus Conference Center. He has served as a regulatory consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In 1994, Bridges was appointed by then-President Bill Clinton to the Agriculture Board of the President's Council on Sustainable Development.

Leadership in academics, research and policy

In 2006, Bridges became the 10th president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, where he transformed the institution from a two-year to a four-year college, and enrollment in agricultural programs tripled to more than 1,500 students. Bridges is also an ABAC alumnus, earning an associate’s degree before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University. As ABAC’s longest-serving president, Bridges oversaw significant renovations and new construction at ABAC, including facilities for agricultural technology, science, nursing and fine arts.

Today, Bridges continues to lead and advocate for rural communities as interim director of Georgia’s Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation, an organization created by legislation he helped craft in 2018. His vision and dedication remain focused on enhancing both quality of life and economic opportunities in Georgia's rural areas. Bridges and his wife, Kim, have two adult children and two grandchildren.

News Article: Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame inducts leaders in education and business for 2025