Nathan Sheets has spent years in the honey business, and now he wants to spice things up as Texas Agriculture Commissioner. He’s running against incumbent Sid Miller in the GOP primary this March. Sheets promises to make sure Texans have access to safe, clean food while supporting local farmers and ranchers.
At a recent forum with East Texas Republicans, he spoke about his goals. He believes Texas farmers are struggling more now than ever. In just the past six years, around 17,000 farms have shut down. “Farmers simply can’t make a living like they used to,” he said, emphasizing the importance of keeping rural Texas thriving.
Sheets founded Nature Nate’s, a well-known honey company that started with just one beehive but has grown to be one of the largest honey brands in the U.S. His honey is raw and free of harmful additives. Before his honey venture, Sheets was involved in mission work and helped create the EvangeCube, a tool for teaching others about his faith.
If elected, he wants to introduce “Grow Texan,” a program to help farmers connect directly with customers. Think of it like a Texas version of Amazon, focused solely on local agricultural products. “It’s about helping our farmers not just survive, but thrive,” he stated.
Currently, Texas has a program called “Go Texan,” but Sheets believes it lacks a clear vision. “We can do better,” he insists. He also wants to address the health crisis affecting Americans. About 70% of people now live with chronic diseases, often linked to poor diets filled with processed foods.
“We’re in a chronic disease pandemic,” he pointed out. Sheets advocates for eating whole foods and healthy options, supporting the new U.S. Department of Agriculture food pyramid that prioritizes nutritious foods.
While he believes in less regulation for farmers, Sheets also knows when rules make sense. He wants to lower costs for producers so they can focus on growing quality crops.
Sheets entered the race at the suggestion of former senator Rick Santorum. Initially, he supported Miller, but when Miller decided to run again, Sheets shifted his focus. He’s critiqued Miller for making his position more about self-promotion than supporting farmers. Sheets claims Miller uses his office to benefit himself, often appearing in promotional materials and his own TV show, “Texas Our Texas.”
“I think it could cost about a million dollars to remove his images and rebrand,” Sheets said, hinting at how important it is to refocus the department’s purpose. He is committed to creating an ethical agency that serves its staff and the farming community.
In his eyes, Texas agriculture needs a fresh vision. “Without vision, people perish,” he quoted, stressing the need for an inspiring direction in food production and safety.
With early voting starting on February 17, Sheets is gearing up to share his message and connect with voters before Election Day on March 3. As Texans weigh their options, conversations about food security and local agriculture are more important than ever.
