Florida Farm Bureau honors members, others at 68th Annual Meeting

(Daytona Beach, Fla.) – More than 500 Florida Farm Bureau Federation leaders from across the state gathered at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort in Daytona Beach Oct. 28-30 for the organization’s 68th annual meeting. They adopted policies that will guide the organization for the next year, heard reports from leaders and honored individuals who have provided exemplary service to agriculture.

NELSON, TIDWELL RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

President John L. Hoblick presented the organization’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, to the late Alfred Donald Nelson, a Sumter county farmer and Marion Tidwell, a west Florida cattleman.

Full release is posted at http://floridafarmbureau.org/press/2009_1027

JEB SMITH NAMED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Jeb Smith of St. Johns County, drove away from the Annual Meeting with a new Dodge Ram Quad Cab truck, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, after having been selected as the winner of Florida Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher competition. He will represent the Sunshine State in the national competition at the American Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Seattle in January 2010. The winner there will receive a Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 4×4 SLT pickup truck and a 4×4 ATV courtesy of Dodge.

Keith and Stephanie Shiver of Mayo and Stephen and Tracie Fulford of Monticello were the runners-up for this prestigious award.

TAYLORS EARN EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE AWARD

Carlton and Laura Lee Taylor, a Polk County couple, were chosen as the winners of the Excellence in Agriculture competition. The honor is bestowed upon farmers and ranchers who are under the age of 35 and do not derive the majority of their income from an owned farm operation. They collected $1,200 for their efforts and will represent Florida at the American Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture competition at the January 2010 annual meeting.

JENNY BLACK WINS YF&R DISCUSSION MEET

Jenny Black of Polk County won the Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet. The discussion meet is a forum that allows young farmers and ranchers between the ages of 18 and 35 to demonstrate their ability to express ideas and opinions on major agricultural issues. Black receives a $500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to Seattle where she will represent Florida Farm Bureau in the national YF&R Discussion Meet.

LEGISLATORS HONORED

Sen. Charlie Dean and Rep. Trudi Williams received Florida Farm Bureau’s Legislator of the Year awards. Dean, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has championed a number of priority issues for Farm Bureau members and has served as an all-around champion for the agricultural industry. Williams, chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Committee, has been instrumental in the passage of several bills important to farmers and ranchers. Her background as past chair of the Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board qualifies her as an experienced leader in issues involving water, growth management and environmental regulations.

GENE MCAVOY WINS EXCELLENCE IN CROP ADVISING AWARD

Gene McAvoy, a Certified Crop Advisor and Hendry County Extension Director, is the 2009 winner of the Florida Excellence in Crop Advising Award sponsored by the Florida Certified Crop Adviser Program and the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. As Florida’s Certified Crop Adviser of the Year, McAvoy received a plaque and a $500 cash award.

VOLUSIA COUNTY YOUTH WINS YOUTH SPEECH COMPETITION

Karly Vojnar of Volusia County was the winner and Valerie McKee, Okeechobee County, was the runner-up in the state Youth Speech Contest. Karly was home schooled and is currently a freshman in college. She is the daughter of Michael and Kathryn Vojnar. Valerie is a senior at Okeechobee High School and is the daughter of Cary and Fran McKee of Okeechobee.

NASSAU COUNTY YOUTH WIN QUIZ BOWL

Three young people representing the Nassau County 4-H Club took home top honors at the 2009 Youth Quiz Bowl during Florida Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting. Farm Bureau Quiz Bowl competition requires the ability to master a long list of technical and scientific details associated with agricultural production. Rachel Benoit, a home school student, Katelyn Anno, a pupil at Sunshine Christian Academy, and Annemarie Hailey, a student at West Nassau High School, were able to more than match wits with opposing teams.

NEW OFFICERS, BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED

The board of directors reelected Mark Byrd, an Apopka nurseryman, to be its Secretary. Jeff Vermillion, a rancher from Marion County, was elected Treasurer.
 
Jerry Davis, an diversified farmer from Jay, was elected to represent District 1. Blountstown farmer Henry McCrone will represent District 3 and Brad Etheridge of Williston, who with his family operates a livestock backgrounding operation, will represent District 9 on the Florida Farm Bureau board of directors. Jacob Larson, newly-elected class president of the FFBF Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Group, also joined the board. Jeffery Hamrick, a Hamilton County rancher, will continue to serve on the board as immediate past class president. Michelle Williamson, chair of the FFBF State Women’s Leadership Committee, and Virginia “Ginny” Paarlberg, Women’s vice chair, will continue to serve on the state board.

WOMEN’S COMMITTEE RE-ELECTS LEADERS

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s State Women’s Leadership Committee remains unchanged from last year. Michelle Williamson of Sydney was re-elected chair. Williamson and Vice-chair Ginny Paarlberg serve on the Florida Farm Bureau board of directors and Paarlberg serves on the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee. Ann Christmas of Chipley was elected to represent District 1; Norma Jean Parrish will represent District 3; Cheryl Flood of Frostproof was elected to represent District 5, Laurie Schuller will represent District 7 and Abbie Rolph of Century is the Young Farmer and Rancher representative.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA HONORED

Florida Farm Bureau Federation honored members of the media for outstanding coverage of agriculture and farming issues over the past year.

• Jessica Klipa, a reporter for the Bradenton Herald, was named the 2009 Newsperson of the Year.
• Stephanie Farmer of Farm & Ranch News was named the Ag Journalist of the Year. This award recognizes members of the trade media that cover agriculture within the industry.