As we wrap up October we close out National School Lunch Month—a time to thank the hardworking Texans who feed our kids every day. It’s also a moment to ask honest questions about what we’re feeding them—and whether our leaders are telling us the truth about what’s really on those trays.
A decade ago, our current Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller, said this during his State of Agriculture address: “What we’ve been doing for the last ten years hasn’t worked. The obesity rate in our schoolchildren has gotten progressively worse. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results—and we are no longer going to do that.”
But a fair question for Texans today is this: are we better off?
Since that speech, Texas kids haven’t gotten healthier—they’ve gotten sicker. More than 75 percent of our nation’s health care spending now goes to treating chronic disease. Obesity rates have tripled since the 1970s, and 77 percent of young Americans are no longer fit to serve in the military. That’s not just a health crisis—it’s a national security crisis.
Yet instead of tackling the problem head-on, Miller’s first official act was to grant “amnesty to cupcakes,” followed by lifting long-standing bans on deep-fat fryers and sodas in schools—a reversal of decades of bipartisan work to make school lunches healthier.
Now, Miller brags about his “Farm Fresh” programs, claiming Texas leads the nation in connecting schools with local farmers. The truth is less flattering. State data shows schools bought $257.8 million in Texas-grown food in 2022–23 out of nearly $2.5 billion spent annually. That’s just 10 percent—well below the national average of 16 percent. For all the slogans, Texas is not leading; we’re lagging.
Across the country, leaders are recognizing that food is national security. President Trump is calling for food independence and agricultural security as pillars of defense. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sounding the alarm on nutrition, soil health, and transparency. And here in Texas, the Legislature just passed 25 health and nutrition reform bills in one session—a clear sign that Make America Healthy Again momentum is building.
I’m especially grateful to East Texas Senator Bryan Hughes for leading on this issue—passing legislation to remove some of the worst artificial dyes and additives from our school lunches. That’s real reform that puts the health of Texas children ahead of politics, and it shows what principled leadership can accomplish when it’s focused on results instead of rhetoric.
What’s missing is leadership inside the Texas Department of Agriculture—leadership with conviction, integrity, and a clear plan to move Texas forward.
That’s why I’m running. It’s time to Make Agriculture Healthy Again right here in Texas.
Texas can lead a new national model where healthy food, strong farms, and conservative values work together to restore health and prosperity. We can rebuild food independence by prioritizing local production, processing, and consumption while expanding exports abroad. We can cut red tape so farmers and ranchers can sell directly to families, schools, and local markets—keeping profits in rural communities where they belong. We can use our state’s purchasing power to serve more clean, Texas-grown food in our schools, feeding kids better while supporting the farmers and ranchers who feed us all.
Texas can do this. But we need a Commissioner who will put results ahead of rhetoric, honesty ahead of headlines, and Texas families ahead of political ambition.
The solutions are here. The people are ready. Now it’s time for action.
If you believe Texas can lead again—if you believe we can grow food better, grow better food, and build a healthier, freer, stronger state—then join us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nate Sheets is a 5th generation Texan, proud conservative, and successful entrepreneur who built Nature Nate’s, the nation’s top-selling branded honey company, from a backyard hive. Nate is so committed to his pursuit of serving Texans as Agriculture Commissioner, he resigned from Nature Nate’s and its Board. A champion for rural communities and Texas values, Nate is running for Agriculture Commissioner to bring integrity, transparency, and real leadership back to the agency. Nathan and his wife Patty live in Frisco, Texas, where they raised their four children and attend Providence Church. Learn more at NateSheets.com.