Todd Patterson Haymore, Virginia's agriculture commissioner, was bred for the job.

Haymore was raised on a ration that included large helpings of agriculture and public service.

His grandfather was one of Pittsylvania County's best tobacco growers, uncles have run a tobacco warehouse and a nursery and landscape business, and his father, H.F. Haymore Jr., is Pittsylvania County's longtime circuit court clerk.

Haymore, 38, grew up on a tobacco, soybean and grain farm just north of Danville and has worked in or around agriculture businesses for most of his life.

Prior to accepting Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's offer to lead the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Haymore was corporate director for external affairs for Universal Leaf Tobacco Co. Inc. and vice president of the company's foundation. Richmond-based Universal is the world's largest independent tobacco dealer.

Haymore initially demurred when Kaine's staff contacted him early this year to ask if he would consider replacing J. Carlton Courter III, who was leaving the agriculture department to become chief at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. (Courter is no longer in that job.)

"I was enjoying myself at Universal, and it didn't seem like the right time for a move," Haymore said.

Kaine was persistent, however. On his return from a business trip to Europe, Haymore found a message from the governor's office waiting.

Haymore accepted the commissioner's job in June after discussing with Kaine and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Robert Bloxom what attributes they were looking for in a commissioner.

The governor talked with Haymore about ratcheting up the state's efforts to market Virginia agricultural products domestically and internationally, a task that interested Haymore. They also talked about farmland preservation, a subject in which Haymore has a keen interest.

Then Kaine gave Haymore some time to investigate what accepting the job might imply. "It was that time that allowed me to understand what a good opportunity I was being offered," he said.

Don Anderson, a Halifax County farmer and executive director of the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association, says he has known Haymore since he worked on agricultural issues as an aide to U.S. Rep. L.F. Payne, D-5th, and was excited to hear of Haymore's appointment.

"I think Todd will do a fine job as commissioner," Anderson said. Haymore's experience working with tobacco growers and beef producers in Payne's district and his international trade experience with Universal will serve him well in the commissioner's job, he said.

"I wanted to bring some new energy to the job, and Todd certainly brought that," the governor said recently. "I also needed somebody who understands international marketing, and Todd does.

"We thought so much of him that we went after him. He didn't apply for the job," Kaine added.

Haymore said his personal experience with legislative and regulatory agencies and his familiarity with business development and international trade proved to be a good fit for the commissioner's job.

Haymore, who has a warm and gregarious personality and an inquisitive mind, also seems like a good choice for someone to serve as the ambassador for Virginia's agricultural industry.

After he started as commissioner on Aug. 1, Haymore hit the Virginia back roads to get to know the department he had agreed to lead and the people and businesses that it serves. He has also been on an international trade mission to Cuba, where he worked to increase the export of soybeans, soybean meal and apples to the island nation.

The value of Virginia's exports to Cuba has climbed from $2.5 million three years ago to $26 million this year. "It's one of the existing markets where we need to push the door open farther," Haymore said.

Haymore has hired Charles Green, who worked in international marketing for the North Carolina agriculture department, to be his department's marketing director. Haymore's long-term goal is for Virginia to have the best marketing agriculture department among the 50 states.

He has benefited through his career by working and learning from many good managers, Haymore said. As a manager, he considers himself a consensus builder with an open-door inclusive style.

"I'm not a micro-manager," he said. "I will give people a task and let them do it."

Haymore has found the staff at the agriculture department to be outstanding, he said. "I'm grateful for their willingness to work with the new guy. I feel I have an all-star team here."
Contact Greg Edwards at (804) 649-6390 or gedwards@timesdispatch.com.