Who I Am

Ron Sparks, now in his second term as Alabama's Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, was born and raised in Fort Payne, Alabama, where he learned the value of hard work from his mother and grandmother. His mother and both of his grandmothers worked in DeKalb County sock mills, and he began working in a sock mill while still in high school.

After graduation from Ft. Payne High School, Sparks enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, in which he served as a member of the Honor Guard and in Search and Rescue. While serving in the Coast Guard, he received numerous commendations and letters of merit, including the Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in the Performance of Duty with Operational Distinguishing Device for saving passengers of an overturned sailboat from turbulent waters.

Upon completion of Coast Guard service, Sparks furthered his education via the G.I. Bill and graduated from Northeast Alabama Community College. In 1978, at the age of 24, he became one of the youngest county commissioners ever elected in the State of Alabama.

Sparks was a successful businessman in the Ft. Payne area and was very active in the local community. He was active in the Jaycees, serving as their vice president; the United Giver's Fund; the Kiwanis Club; the Fort Payne Athletic Boosters, serving as their president; American Legion Post 89, serving as Commander; Forest Avenue PTA, serving as president; PTO Council, serving as vice president. He also served the state on several boards, such as the Secretary of State's Task Force to reform election laws and the Lt. Governor's Task Force on violence in schools.

Sparks coached youth athletics for over 20 years in the DeKalb County area, and had the pleasure of seeing athletes go on to play on a national championship football team and progress to the professional level.

One of Sparks' proudest moments came in 1993 when he was appointed Director of the DeKalb County 911 System and was instrumental in designing and implementing the on-line program. In 1998, he was elected State President of Alabama 911.

In 1999, Sparks was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries. He served in this post until the opportunity presented itself once again to step forward and seek public office.

In 2003, Sparks was sworn in as the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. His grandmothers, always an important part of his life, held the Bible while he was sworn into office. In 2006 he won re-election to a second term in a landslide, winning 62 out of 67 counties.

Commissioner Sparks raised public awareness of the Department of Agriculture & Industries to a new level. He has focused on the serious issues facing agriculture in Alabama and is a strong advocate for our farmers. He built his management team with dedicated men and women who are ready to help move Alabama and the Department of Agriculture and Industries forward into a new era.

Commissioner Sparks expanded the Food Safety Division so that more imported food is tested for harmful chemicals that have been banned in the United States. He has long been an advocate of protecting consumers with Country of Origin Labeling. Thousands of pounds of imported seafood have been stopped before being served on Alabama dinner tables. Sparks also dedicated resources to help Alabama become less dependent on foreign oil. He established the Center for Alternative Fuels to serve as a central hub for information in the field.

Sparks saw to it that the department made great strides in the area of child nutrition. He helped implement several new programs, including the Farm to School Program. He also worked closely with the Alabama Department of Education to help ensure that schools are serving healthy food to Alabama's children.

Under Commissioner Sparks' leadership, the department opened several new diagnostic labs. Sparks and his staff have also worked aggressively to help bring perpetrators of agriculture-related crimes to justice.

Sparks worked to open new markets for Alabama's farmers by meeting with national and international leaders, including the Secretary of Agriculture for the African Nation of Benin; the Mayor of New Delhi, India; the Agriculture Secretary for Italy; and Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Commissioner Sparks represented Alabama farmers and agribusiness by serving as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Commissioner Sparks was later elected President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Among many honors, Commissioner Sparks has been named the 2006 Friend of Labor by the Alabama AFL-CIO and received an Innovative Alabama Governments Award from the Auburn Montgomery Center for Government at Auburn University in Montgomery.

Sparks, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, strongly supports the Second Amendment and rights to keep and bear arms.

Sparks has three children, Misty Dixon, Sparky Sparks and Luke Sparks; and two grandchildren, Jake Dixon and Atticus Sparks.