Ron Sparks

Ron Sparks earned a high school diploma from Fort Payne High School and an associate degree from Northeast State Community College. His career experience includes working as an agriculture director. He previously served as the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries from 2003 to 2011, having assumed office in 2003 and left in 2011. Sparks, a Democrat, is running for election for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2026. The Democratic primary for this office was canceled, and he advanced without appearing on the ballot. He is campaigning on his record of fighting for farmers, improving food safety, and building three new animal diagnostic labs. If elected, he plans to return the law enforcement division to the department to help farmers with theft and consumers with fraud, advocating for nonpartisan leadership.