By Ed Albanesi Editor

Editor's note - In this issue of FloridAgriculture we begin a series of mini-profiles focusing on Florida Farm Bureau's fieldmen. According to Field Services Director Dennis Emerson, fieldmen provide the liaison between the state organization and the 62 county Farm Bureau's located throughout Florida. The state is divided into eight districts, with each fieldman responsible for between five and 10 county Farm Bureaus. This month we start with Field Districts One and Two. Field District One includes Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington Farm Bureaus. District Two includes Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla Farm Bureaus.

Henry McCrone (left) was quick to name Thomas Jefferson as one of his heroes. He said his love of history and the fact that Jefferson was one of this nation's founding fathers made the choice an easy one.

When asked about heroes on a more personal or local scale, McCrone was a little hesitant to start naming names. "There are many individuals who have made a positive influence on my life," says McCrone, "and I wouldn't want to leave anyone out."

Sensitivity to the feelings of others is desirable trait in most fields of endeavor. In the case of a Florida Farm Bureau fieldman, it is pretty much a requirement for the job.

District One stretches all the way from the Florida-Alabama border to the Apalachicola River, a distance of about 140 miles. McCrone serves as a friend and resource to 10 separate county Farm Bureaus and their boards of directors. It's a job he seems to thoroughly enjoy.

The territory should be a familiar one to McCrone who grew up on a Calhoun County farm. A sixth generation Calhoun County native, he was graduated from Altha High School and received his two-year college degree from nearby Chipola Community College in Marianna.

McCrone subsequently attended Florida State University and received a bachelor's degree in communications.

His wife, Sharon, is from the same area and now teaches at Blountstown High School. McCrone has been with Florida Farm Bureau since 1987.

"My job centers around relationships and trust," says McCrone. "If people don't trust you, they will probably not be willing to share information with you."

In light of this, McCrone sees information as one of his most important commodities. "The scope of this job has changed a lot in the last five to 10 years because there are so many issues that those of us in agriculture have to keep track of," says McCrone.

One regular stop on his monthly itinerary is for governing board meetings of the Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD). McCrone says that he just doesn't show up for monthly board meetings, but must establish and maintain relationships with water management district board members and staff.

That sentiment is echoed by Fern Recio, the deputy executive director at NWFWMD. "Farm Bureau has always been a valuable resource for us. It helped us formulate district rules for farm ponds and has worked with us on a number of other issues important to agriculture," says Recio.

"Both Henry and (District Two fieldman) Dan (Buchanan) have been very helpful to us in our rule development process," adds Recio.

When McCrone is not attending meetings of regulatory agencies, he might be found visiting with IFAS Extension personnel to learn of research and improved farming practices that he can share with Farm Bureau members.

He will stop by county Farm Bureau offices to exchange information with county leaders and fulfill his responsibility as a liaison to the state organization.

Jackson County Farm Bureau Office Manager Teresa Eidson describes McCrone as "friendly and helpful" or a "Johnny-on-the-spot."

McCrone says that his job is definitely not boring and that he is sometimes in awe of the number of meetings that he might have reason to attend.

"I could literally go to a meeting or two each day. But common sense tells you that you can't make them all," says McCrone."Every day I try to be conscious of smiling and portray a positive attitude."

That kind of outlook will probably get you through many lengthy and mundane meetings.