Dalton Farmer: Seizing the Opportunity to Make a Difference

Dalton Farmer is the first human resources director that the City of Oneonta, Ala. has ever had.

For Farmer, it’s the first public sector HR role he’s ever had. Before taking his current position in March 2017, government human resources wasn’t really on his radar.

And, if not for a personal connection within the City of Oneonta, he might have never pursued public service.

“A close friend who served as the city clerk for the municipality where I now work reached out to me,” he recalls, “about an opening for the first human resources director in the city’s history.”

Farmer certainly had relevant experience. He had previously served in the private sector as a human resources generalist with Nashville, Tenn.-based HR Solutions by Design, and as a team leader with Kearny, Neb.-based retailer the Buckle Inc.

In the latter role, Farmer’s responsibilities included providing tactical and strategic support for the HR functions at multiple organizations, assisting with payroll management and ensuring clients were in compliance with federal, state and local laws.

But what attracted him to the role with the City of Oneonta “was the opportunity to make a difference,” says Farmer, who holds a bachelor’s of business administration in management/human resource management from Athens State University.

Stepping into an organization that had never had a dedicated HR director offered him the chance to “help build something from the ground up,” he continues.

“I also found myself drawn to public service because the work is ultimately about people and community. There is something meaningful about knowing that the work you do behind the scenes can help an organization serve its employees and its citizens better.”

Farmer joined PSHRA as a member in 2017. He was elected secretary of the PSHRA Alabama chapter in 2023, vice president/president elect in 2024 and president in 2025. Dalton first got involved at the chapter level to expand his professional network and public sector HR knowledge.

“What I did not expect,” he says, “was how much I would come to value the relationships I have built through PSHRA. Those connections have grown beyond professional networking, and I have formed genuine friendships with people both within my state and across the country.”

Becoming part of the PSHRA network “has given me a real sense of community,” continues Farmer. “I know I am not alone in the challenges I face, and I have people I can turn to for guidance, ideas, support or simply a conversation with someone who understands the work we do.”

In the days ahead, Farmer hopes to pursue the PSHRA-SCP certification, earn an MBA in strategic human resource management and continue to be actively involved with PSHRA beyond his time as the Alabama chapter president.

“This organization has become important to me, and I hope to continue serving in some capacity, supporting other professionals and giving back to the same community that has helped me grow,” he says.

“More than anything, PSHRA has helped me feel connected to a larger profession and reminded me that even when public sector HR can feel very isolated, there is a community of people willing to help.”