Emblazoned with the words, “Our Farms – Our Future,” South Carolina’s farm-themed specialty license plate has helped raise nearly $250,000 for Ag in the Classroom programming since its inception in 2009.
The idea to create a specialty plate that would celebrate agriculture was proposed by Maria Samot, South Carolina Ag in the Classroom’s director at the time.
“If someone has this plate on their vehicle it means that they not only support the people who grow our food, fuel and fiber, but they also support teaching the next generation about understanding where those commodities come from,” said Stephanie Sox, South Carolina Farm Bureau’s director of promotion and education. “It helps us connect producers and consumers and bridge the gap from farm gate to dinner plate.”
South Carolina is home to 24,600 farms spanning 4.8 million acres, with operations averaging 195 acres in size. Broilers are the state’s top commodity, accounting for close to a third of South Carolina’s total agricultural sales. It ranks second nationally in peach production (behind California), and boasts corn, cotton, cattle, soybeans, and peaches among its other major commodities. The state is also home to the only tea farm in North America.