President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to lead the Department of Agriculture.

“Sonny Perdue is going to accomplish great things as Secretary of Agriculture,” Trump said in a statement. “From growing up on a farm to being governor of a big agriculture state, he has spent his whole life understanding and solving the challenges our farmers face, and he is going to deliver big results for all Americans who earn their living off the land.”

Perdue, who would replace Tom Vilsack, is a longtime rural agribusiness man who also worked as a veterinarian.

Over the past month, Trump and his team met about the top USDA position with many candidates, including four Texans—Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, former Comptroller Susan Combs, former U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-San Antonio) and former president of Texas A&M University Elsa Murano.

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) strongly endorses Perdue for the position.

“Gov. Perdue will provide the strong voice that agriculture needs in the new administration. He is an outstanding nominee,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall, also from Georgia, said.

“I have known Gov. Perdue for years. I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to the business of agriculture as we worked together on issues facing farmers and ranchers in our home state of Georgia,” Duvall said. “He understands the challenges facing rural America because that’s where he was born and raised. He is a businessman who recognizes the impact immigration reform, trade agreements and regulation have on a farmer’s bottom line and ability to stay in business from one season to the next.”

According to Agri-Pulse, Perdue grew up on a diversified crop and dairy farm in central Georgia and is the managing partner of AGrowStar, which operates grain elevators in Georgia and South Carolina. He is a former president of two regional groups—Georgia Feed and Grain and Southeastern Feed and Grain. He has also served on the board of the National Grain and Feed Association.

Perdue, according to Agri-Pulse, also founded and owns Houston Fertilizer and Grain Co., Inc., which sells retail farming and garden supplies, and Perdue Inc., a freight and warehousing company.

“The American Farm Bureau looks forward to continuing our work with USDA under Gov. Perdue’s leadership,” Duvall said. “When farmers and ranchers are free to access cutting-edge technologies, reach new markets and make decisions that protect their businesses and resources, we all are better off.”