Tom McCall

Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame

Tom McCall 

BSA — Animal Science, ’80

Tom McCall is a third-generation farmer who owns and operates a grain and livestock farm in Elberton, Georgia, and serves as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau. From 1995 through 2020, he served in the Georgia House of Representatives. During his tenure, he chaired the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee from 2005 until 2020 and served on the Natural Resources and Environment; Transportation; and Game, Fish and Parks committees. He authored important legislation in 2009 and 2019 that protected producers’ rights to farm and operate agritourism businesses.

Hailed as “one of Georgia agriculture’s most modest and influential stewards” in his nomination to the Georgia Agriculture Hall of Fame, McCall was instrumental in the agriculture-focused legislation that passed the Georgia General Assembly during his 25-year tenure. His roots in Georgia agriculture are strong, having served as Young Farmer program chairman for Georgia Farm Bureau in 1982, as president of the Elbert County Farm Bureau, as a member of the Farm Service Agency’s Elbert County committee, as a state board member for the Georgia Farm Bureau from 1984 through 1996, and as a Soil Conservation District supervisor.

McCall and his wife, Jane, a retired kindergarten teacher, are the proud parents of three children: Bud, Al and Katie. Al serves as vice president of economic development for Athens Technical College and director of Athens Tech’s Elberton campus. Al is married to Rachel, and they have two sons, Winn and Wilkes. Katie founded the Friends Helping Friends Club, a nonprofit service organization dedicated to providing inclusive, no-cost educational opportunities to special-needs students in Elbert County. Katie started the organization in honor of her brother Bud, who passed away in 2000. She is an instructor at Athens Tech and married to Bristol Archer. While Mr. McCall is gratified by the success he has enjoyed in his farming and political endeavors, his greatest joy is his family.