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Neuhofer enjoys family and working with kids
Maybe that’s why the 1986 graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has spent most of his professional career working with farmers and Farm Bureau members is his southwest Florida District Six. After a brief stint as a production manager
with the Haines City Growers Association, Neuhofer joined Florida
Farm Bureau in January 1988 as an assistant director of field services.
The district he’s assigned to covers eight counties in southwest
Florida stretching from Highlands County west to Manatee County, and
south to Lee County; including Hardee and DeSoto Counties. A third-generation Pasco County native, Neuhofer is the oldest of six brothers and three sisters. He was reared in the town of St. Joseph where his family grew citrus and ran an egg farm. In addition to helping around the farm, Neuhofer earned some extra cash while in high school by working the grounds for the good sisters at the Holy Name Priory in San Antonio. While attending college in Gainesville, Neuhofer held several part- time jobs including working on a blueberry farm, washing test tubes in a university lab and hosing down the stands, walkways and bathrooms at Florida Field the morning after a Gator football game. “You don’t want to hear about some of the stuff we would find,” chuckles Neuhofer. One of the things that Neuhofer likes best about his current job is that it allows him to work with children as part of Ag in the Classroom activities. Several of his counties have Ag-Venture programs that bring elementary school students to a central location where they hear from a variety of speakers. “We like to teach children about the kinds of agriculture in the areas that they live,” says Neuhofer. “If beef and dairy are big around them, we talk about that. If it’s citrus or vegetables, we talk about them.” While Neuhofer enjoys interacting with young people, there’s more to his job than just that. “I see myself as a liaison between our county Farm Bureau members and those working at the state level in Gainesville and Tallahassee,” says Neuhofer. “In addition to working with Farm Bureau volunteers to keep existing programs viable, I have to work just as hard to get new members involved.” County Farm Bureau leaders appreciate the contributions that Neuhofer provides and have some nice things to say about him. “Andy is extremely supportive of what we do and always wants to know what he can do to help,” boasts Julie Kennedy, executive director of the Sarasota County Farm Bureau. “He brings positive input and ideas to our county meetings. He’s always there when you need him and that says a lot. Andy’s a great guy and we’re fortunate to have him as our fieldman.” Neuhofer and his wife, Sharon, live in Arcadia and are raising a daughter and son. Eighteen-year-old daughter Brandy now works full time at the supervisor of elections office in Charlotte County. Son Chris, 17, is currently a junior at Charlotte County High School. Sharon Neuhofer is the executive officer for the Charlotte Builders and Contractors Association. An avid hunter, Neuhofer plans to spend a good portion of his free time during the next couple of months with his son and brother pursuing deer in Taylor County. Family is very important to Neuhofer and he says his favorite pastime is spending quality time with his wife and children. With or without his family, he likes spending his time out of doors. “I enjoy getting on the tractor and mowing a field or even repairing fences,” admits Neuhofer. “I guess I just like being outside. |
