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
7007 Highway 19E, Loris, SC 29569
Horry County
(C) 843-241-3605
Term Exp: 12-31-2024
Coleman “Cole” Huggins
6190 Bedford Road, Nichols, SC 29581
Horry County
cole.huggins@yahoo.com
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Brad Elliott
6550 Eugenes Road, Nichols, SC 29581
Horry County
bradelliott10@gmail.com
(C) 843-421-4046
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
District 2
Dupree Atkinson – SECRETARY/TREASURER
1118 Willowbrook Place, Mullins, SC 29574
Marion County
atknsn9@aol.com
(H) 843-464-8637, (C) 843-430-1677
Term Exp: 12-31-2023
Ben Teal – VICE CHAIRMAN
298 Cat Pond Rd, Patrick, SC 29584
Chesterfield County
tealbk@cctech.edu
(C) 843-307-6549, (W) 843-498-6688, (H) 843-498-6841
Term Exp: 12-31-2023
District 3
Steve R. Squires – CHAIRMAN
6443 Old Pee Dee Rd., Hemingway, SC 29554
Georgetown County
ssfarms5@hotmail.com
(H) 843-558-2064, (C) 843-382-7495
Term Exp: 12-31-2025
Josh Baxley
763 Brick Mill Drive, Georgetown, SC 29440
Georgetown County
jrollie81@gmail.com
(C) 843-325-6145
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.
15311 Lowcountry Highway, Ruffin, SC 29475
Colleton County
brelandhillfarms@yahoo.com
(W) 843-866-7403, (H) 843-866-2763, (C) 843-908-0164
