Florida farmers named to national advisory committees

GAINESVILLE, FLA - Fourteen Florida farmers and ranchers have been named to several Advisory Committees of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The purpose of the Advisory Committees is to gather facts and evaluate agricultural opportunities that benefit the whole of American agriculture and to serve in an advisory capacity to the American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman and the organization’s board of directors.

“These appointments are an incredible opportunity for Florida agriculture,” said Kevin Morgan, director of agricultural policy for Florida Farm Bureau Federation. “This is a testament not only to the knowledge and experience of our member farmers but to the significant roles they play in their respective areas of agriculture on a national scale.

“We are proud to have them as Florida Farm Bureau leaders and as representatives for national agriculture as well.”

The Florida Farm Bureau members and their respective committees are: Ralph Garrison of Bradenton, Ag Nursery and Greenhouse; Hal Phillips of Morriston; Animal Health; Daniel Leonard of Englewood, Aquaculture; Brad Etheridge of Williston, Beef Cattle; Brant Shirard, Jr. of Ft. Pierce and Mason Smoak of Lake Placid, Citrus; Rod Land of Mayo, Dairy; Bill Benham of Astatula, Equine; Steve Cantu of Zolfo Springs, Honey/Apiculture; Roland Yee of Port St. Lucie, Horticulture; J. Daniel Peterson of Deland, Labor; Jerry Davis of Jay, Peanut; Mark Sodders of Pahokee, Sugar; and Damon Deas of Jennings, Tobacco.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with more than 142,000 member-families statewide. 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. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of government. More information is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.