Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Andy Bell of Bell Farms in Climax, Georgia was elected as the 2021 National Peanut Board chairman, this past December. Bell serves as active chairman from January 2021 until December 2021.

“I’m proud to be representing the National Peanut Board on behalf of all peanut farmers, especially at a time when peanut consumption is at an all-time high of 7.6 pounds per person,” Bell said. “At the start of my tenure as the alternate board member for Georgia 12 years ago, the word ‘allergy’ would send any peanut grower into a panic; however, with the development of the first oral immunotherapy allergy treatment and USDA recommendation of early introduction to help prevent peanut allergies, today we can confidently tackle allergy questions based on research. While change doesn’t come quickly, we’ve made great strides on allergy issues and consumption, and I am enjoying contributing toward the continued positive efforts during my year as chairman.”

Bell graduated with his associate degree in agriculture from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College, then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Georgia. He has been a producer and partner at Bell Farms since graduating college. Bell was the 2019 recipient of the Master Farmer award at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He is currently the vice-chairman of the Development Authority of Bainbridge-Decatur Country, as well as a member of the board of directors for the American Peanut Growers Group, where he currently serves on the executive board as treasurer. Bell is chairman of the export committee of the APC and serves on the advisory board of the Georgia Peanut Commission. Previously, Bell was president of the peanut committees of the American and Georgia Farm Bureaus.

The National Peanut Board is made up of farmers whose mission is to work to improve the economic condition of USA peanut farmers and their families through compelling promotion and groundbreaking research.