News Release

(LEESBURG, Fla.)--Florida Farm Bureau Federation was pleased to award a Good Samaritan a $500 reward for his help in convicting a thief who made off in the night with rare and exotic orchids. William Fessenden was convicted of grand theft after he had stolen 220 orchids last spring from Goodwin Orchids in Leesburg. Florida Farm Bureau offers the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of theft, arson or vandalism committed on a Florida Farm Bureau Federation member’s property. “We are pleased to make this offer to encourage citizens to be good neighbors and report suspicious incidents,” said Scottie Butler, general counsel for Florida Farm Bureau Federation.

Duane and Donna Goodwin have cultivated the exotic beauties at Goodwin Orchids since 1998, when they took the business over from Duane’s father, John Goodwin, who had fallen ill. “Orchids in general are a more expensive plant because they are endangered species with many coming from various regions of the world,” Donna stated. They know their orchids well enough to recognize each one of them by sight.

One of the plants stolen was one they had nicknamed “Grandma.” The plant is 11 years old and probably the Goodwin’s most valuable orchid. “We were once offered $1,000 for Grandma,” Duane recalled. Orchid plants produce kiekies, which are essentially offspring or baby plants. “Grandma” was so named because of the prolific number of kiekies that she has produced.

“Grandma consists of about 50 plants – some with roots, some not yet rooted,” Donna said. “When she was stolen, she had five bloom spikes, and each spike had eight to 10 flowers each. She was glorious.”

Ten days later, a friend who wanted to remain anonymous asked to borrow their van to do a good deed. The Goodwins stated he was always doing good deeds, so they gladly obliged his request. A half-hour later, he returned with a Mother’s Day present for Donna. When he opened the van doors, she was awestruck by the sight of 47 of her prized orchids. The couple could identify the plants as their own since they had observed them from the time the plants arrived from Thailand, daily inspecting them for pests and disease.

Unfortunately, some of the varieties show permanent scars in their leaves as they do not loose their leaves unless they are distressed and dying. Many of the returned plants were heavily damaged, decreasing their value and ability to be sold. With 47 Vanda orchids in the van, only 10 returned with no damage.

Fessenden was arrested and about 20 percent of the stolen plants were recovered. Among the group of recovered orchids was “Grandma.”

David McDonald, president of Lake County Farm Bureau, said that it is usually the equipment that is stolen from nursery operations. “Theft of nursery plants is uncommon, but the high value of the orchids probably attracted the thief,” McDonald said. “It was encouraging to hear the plants had been returned, and we’re pleased to present the reward to this gentleman for his efforts which aided the recovery.”

The Good Samaritan wanted no credit for returning the flowers. Almost exactly one year to the day of the flowers’ disappearance, the suspect pleaded no contest to grand theft and was sentenced to 36 months (concurrent with another case) and ordered to pay $14,520 restitution.

Florida Farm Bureau celebrates 61 years of service to agriculture this year. The Florida Farm Bureau is the largest independent agricultural association in Florida, representing the interests of more than 150,300 member-families. There are Farm Bureaus in 62 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic importance.