Joe Campbell is 100% Southwest Georgian. Born and raised in Camilla with his brother and sister, Joe has lived here his entire life, outside of college.
Joe’s father farmed and owned and operated a tractor business, so Joe grew up surrounded by farming. He was pointed in the direction of agriculture from the start.
Upon graduating from Mitchell County High School, Joe attended the University of Georgia where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Here, he also met his wife, Deborah. Moving back to Camilla and eventually raising their two sons here, Joe and Deborah have been married for 47 years. Deborah spent her career in education as a 2nd grade teacher while Joe pursued a professional path in agriculture.
Beginning his career in sales with Camilla Cotton Oil Co., Joe moved into the role of Peanut Buyer as the company was purchased by Alimenta Processing Corp. As a successful businessman, he built relationships across the state, region and ultimately across the country connecting farmers and organizations through a network of buying points. Joe retired in 2016 from what eventually became Golden Peanut and Treenut Company as Vice President of Procurement after 40 years of service.
Joe has been actively involved as a board member in a number of professional organizations:
- American Peanut Shellers
- Georgia Crop Improvement Association
- National Peanut Buying Point Association
- Georgia Seed Association
- Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc.
- Georgia Federal State Inspection Services
- Southern Regional Technical College Foundation
Conservative Christian values are, and always have been the most important guiding light in the Campbell family. Both Joe and Deborah have been actively involved in Heritage Church in Moultrie for over 20 years. Joe has also served in the Kairos Prison Ministry and served as a mentor with the Crossroads Ministry in Moultrie for the past year.
Joe remains involved in the community and has a sense of pride and passion for the common conservative values that truly connect our neighbors across Colquitt, Mitchell and Decatur counties. Joe has a strong sense of responsibility to step up and represent these shared conservative values and has proven to be a qualified voice for our community in our state legislature since 2020.