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Commissioner of Agriculture
Of
West Virginia

The commissioner of agriculture advances the agricultural interests of the state and acts to prevent the spread of plant and animal diseases. The commissioner of agriculture is an elected, constitutional official and part of the executive branch of government.
Name County Politics Elected or Appointed
Howard E. Williams Greenbrier Republican 1912
James H. Stewart Monongalia Republican 1916
James H. Stewart Monongalia Republican 1920
John W. Smith Lewis Republican 1924
John W. Smith Lewis Republican 1928
1Howard M. Gore Harrison Republican 1931
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1932
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1936
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1940
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1944
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1948
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1952
J. B. McLaughlin Kanawha Democrat 1956
2John T. Johnson Wood Democrat 1956
John T. Johnson Wood Democrat 1960
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1964
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1968
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1972
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1976
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1980
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1984
Cleve Benedict Greenbrier Republican 1988
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1992
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 1996
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 2000
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 2004
Gus R. Douglass Mason Democrat 2008
Walt Helmick Pocahontas Democrat 2012
Kent Leonhardt Monongalia Republican 2016

1Appointed February 4, 1931 to fill vacancy caused by the death of John W. Smith, January 30, 1931.
2Appointed December 14, 1955 to fill vacancy caused by the death of J. B. McLaughlin, November 20, 1955.

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