(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) - Farm Bureau members from across the state gathered in Daytona Beach for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation's 62nd Annual Meeting Oct. 22-24. Attendees shared knowledge and perspectives with colleagues as they set organizational objectives for the coming year. Highlighting the event was the presentation of awards to the many agricultural leaders who keep agriculture in the forefront of the state.
“We are honored in this state to have many high caliber individuals who represent the agricultural industry,” said Carl Loop Jr, president of Florida Farm Bureau Federation. “Their accomplishments are evident in the public’s growing understanding of the impact of agriculture to this state. Agriculture provides enormous economic and environmental benefits to the state and our nation.”
Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s highest award, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, was presented to Bill Cotton of St. Johns County, a leader in the legislative process and agricultural innovation, and to the family of Herb Bryan of Dade County, a leader in the modernization of vegetable crop production.
Florida Farm Bureau Federation honored Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, and Reps. Marty Bowen, R-Winter Haven, Ralph Poppell, R-Titusville, and Richard Machek, D-Delray Beach, as Legislators of the Year for outstanding work on behalf of Florida agriculture during the 2003 session of the Florida Legislature.
The Youth Speech contest, “What is the Future of Agriculture for Young People?” was won by Melissa Hinton of Hillsborough County with Justin Johnson of Suwannee County as the runner-up.
William and Sarah Carte of Suwannee County drove away in a new Dodge Ram quad cab truck as winners in the Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher competition. They also received an expense-paid trip to the American Farm Bureau annual meeting in Honolulu, HI, where they will represent Florida in the national YF&R competition. The winner of the national competition receives a Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4x4 SLT pickup and an Arctic Cat® 454 4x4 ATV.
As a winner of the Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet, Shawn Crocker of Hillsborough County received $500 and an ATV four-wheeler. Florida Farm Bureau will pay expenses for Crocker to compete in the American Farm Bureau YF&R Discussion Meet at the national convention in Honolulu, HI. The discussion meet is a forum that allows young farmers and ranchers to demonstrate their ability to express ideas and opinions on major agricultural issues.
Tim and Erin Best were winners of the Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture Award. This program is designed as an opportunity for young farmers and ranchers who do not derive the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation to earn recognition. Participants are judged on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations, including civic, service and community. The Bests received $500 and will compete at the national competition in Hawaii.
Donnie Rou of Alachua County received the American Farm Bureau Federation Certified Crop Advisor Award. Certified Crop Advisers assist producers in making decisions that are agronomically, economically and environmentally sound. Together, a farmer and a CCA make a team that works to put good management practices to work on the farm. Rou received his Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) designation in 1997.
County Farm Bureaus shone brightly during the Gold Star Awards ceremony which recognizes superior work in the organization's program categories. Sharing top honors for offering stellar programs for members in 2003 were Farm Bureaus in Broward, Hillsborough, Madison, Marion, Sarasota, Suwannee, Volusia and Washington counties, which all earned 10 stars.
It is at the FFBF annual convention that voting delegates from each county Farm Bureau help shape the organization’s state and federal policy for the coming year and elect members of the FFBF Board of Directors. Mark Wilson of Dade County will be joining the board to represent District 19. Drew Phypers of Highlands County will be joining the board as the Young Farmer and Rancher Committee Chair as Lee Ann Coleman of Hillsborough County will be serving as the immediate past chair. Ginny Paarlberg of Madison County will be stepping up to Women’s Committee Chair and Marilyn Grant of Marion County will be Women’s Committee Vice Chair.
Richard Dymond, a reporter for the Bradenton Herald, and Shelaine Peters, bureau chief of the St. Petersburg Times/Brandon Times, received honors as recipients of Newsperson of the Year awards.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general-interest agricultural association with more than 151,000 member-families statewide. There are Farm Bureaus in 61 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic importance. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government. More information is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.
Florida Farm Bureau Federation