| Senator Sam Watson, a Republican, was elected to serve the Georgia State Senate in January 2023. Sen. Watson serves the citizens of Senate District 11 which includes Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Grady, Seminole, and Thomas County, Georgia. A farmer and an agri-businessman, Sen. Watson was raised on the family farm and graduated from Colquitt County High School in 1997. He earned his Associate's Degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and his Bachelor's in Agricultural Education from the University of Georgia. Sen. Watson is a 2009 graduate of the Georgia Agri-Leaders Forum, a 2011 graduate of Leadership Colquitt, and a 2012 graduate of Leadership Georgia. Sen. Watson is active in his community serving on the Colquitt County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He is a member of the Colquitt County Cattlemen's Association and the Colquitt County Young Farmers Association. Outside of his community, Sen. Watson serves as President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, is a member of the UGA Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Alumni Board, and a member of the Georgia Agribusiness Council. Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Watson served five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives representing House District 172. Sen. Watson has received numerous honors and awards including one of Georgia Trend's "Movers and Shakers in Agribusiness" in 2010 and the 2014 Freshman Legislator of the Year award by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Sen. Watson serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, the Senate Committee on Government Oversight, the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, the Senate Committee on State and Local Governmental Operations, and as Ex-Officio of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Sen. Watson is married to Emily Howard Watson. They are the proud parents of four daughters, Lily, Lucy, Riley Moore and Maddie Ruth. They live in southern Colquitt County on the family farm between Moultrie and Coolidge. The Watsons are members of Moultrie First Baptist Church where they are active in the children's ministry and Sen. Watson serves as a Deacon. |