Katherine Helms, Tobacco Promotion Marketing Specialist
khelms@scda.sc.gov
803-734-5229
The South Carolina Tobacco Board is grower-led and grower-funded. Its mission focuses on research and education as tobacco offers potential in many areas other than the smoking form. From insecticides to medical applications, tobacco contains many positive ingredients for commercial application.
Tobacco has been an important crop in South Carolina since colonial days, and South Carolina Bright Leaf tobacco has long been in demand for its outstanding quality. Marketing of the crop has undergone significant changes in recent years and the “song of the auctioneer” in tobacco warehouses has been replaced with contracted tobacco sales.
South Carolina Tobacco Board Members
District 1
Trenton Dale Tyler
Loris, SC
Horry County
Term Exp: 12-31-2024
Coleman “Cole” Huggins
Nichols, SC
Horry County
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Brad Elliott
Nichols, SC
Horry County
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
District 2
Dupree Atkinson – SECRETARY/TREASURER
Mullins, SC
Marion County
Term Exp: 12-31-2026
Ben Teal – VICE CHAIRMAN
Patrick, SC
Chesterfield County
Term Exp: 12-31-2026
District 3
Steve R. Squires – CHAIRMAN
Hemingway, SC
Georgetown County
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Josh Baxley
Georgetown, SC
Georgetown County
Term Exp: 12-31-2024
Advisory
Katherine Helms, Tobacco Promotion Marketing Specialist
SC Department of Agriculture, PO Box 11280, Columbia, SC 29211
khelms@scda.sc.gov
803-734-5229
Ex Officio
Gerald Breland, Jr.
Ruffin, SC
Colleton County
