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What is MarketMaker you ask? This is a national marketing effort which was developed at the University of Illinois and is being implemented in many states around the country. It’s an interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in a state, providing an important link between producers and consumers. Not only does it link buyers and sellers, it also has searchable databases for market research by users. Florida joins fourteen other states in launching this online marketing effort. Most of the dollars to purchase this program came from IFAS/Extension with additional support from the UF’s Office of Sustainability. If you’d like to see how MM works, go to http://national.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/.
 
In order to make MM a huge success in Florida, it is necessary to get as many of the state’s food producing farmers to register their operations. To begin the familiarization process in Florida, a MM Advisory Committee will be formed with interested extension agents/ faculty, intermediaries and industry folks. One of the responsibilities of the Advisory Committee will be to schedule training for UF/IFAS faculty some time later this spring. We would like to invite all interested UF/IFAS faculty and staff to get involved in this exciting marketing activity. It should be possible for all folks interested in learning how to use MM to attend this training that will be forthcoming in the spring.

More complete details will be forthcoming as we move forward. Stay tuned!

 
  HOT Topics!

 Congrats to Eric Hopkins!

 IFAS Senior Vice President Opening & Search

Eric HopkinsClass V alum Eric Hopkins received Farm Credit’s Phelps-Martin award for his exceptional personal contribution in service to his community . Hopkins, a board director with Farm Credit of South Florida, is the vice president and business manager of Hundley Farms, a commercial agricultural operation based in Belle Glade, which produces sugar cane, sweet corn, radishes, green beans, rice and sod.

Hopkins serves on the Farm Credit of South Florida board of directors and as the Youth Program Chairman for “Leadership Palm Beach County” since 2001. The youth program engages a select group of high school juniors in the county, and puts them through a seven-month civic-engagement and leadership development experience.

In support of Mr. Hopkins’ nomination, the executive director of Leadership Palm Beach County wrote: “I have had the opportunity to interact and work with thousands of volunteer community leaders. Eric stands out among the top one-half of one percent I know. With his combination of knowledge and personality, Eric is just the kind of person you hope steps up to lead in your community.”

The annual awards are named in honor of Steve Phelps, general counsel for The Farm Credit Council, and Marsha Martin, chairman of the FCA Board, both of whom died from cancer in 2000 and were both noted for their commitment to community service. Along with recognition at The Farm Credit Council’s Annual Meeting and a distinctive trophy, those honored with the Phelps-Martin Award also receive a check for $1,000 for the charity of their choice. Congrats Eric!

Four candidates have been selected and have been selected to be interviewed. Their names and information can be found here.

The interviews will take place in early February. Members of the search committee are listed and we’re pleased that Class II’s John Hoblick is on the committee. There is not a chance for everyone to participate in the interview process, but we do know that there are several RECs and Extension offices that have been chosen to “sit in” on part of the interview.

Dr. Hannah Carter will have the opportunity to meet each candidate and be present for their on-campus presentation, so be assured, if they do not know it already, they will understand the importance of the Wedgworth Leadership Program to IFAS and Florida’s agriculture and natural resource industries.  If there is anything she can pass along to the candidates or specific questions that she can ask of them if she has the opportunity, please email her.

In addition, Florida Farm Bureau Federation is sponsoring receptions for all the candidates at the FFBF building (5700 SW 34th St. Gainesville). These receptions will be held in the auditorium, will be an hour long and will be a great chance to meet each candidate. The first one for Dr. Ken Esbenshade was already held.  Here is the information for the remaining three receptions:

Dr. Joe Joyce  5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.    Thursday, February 4th
Dr. Jack Payne  5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.   Monday, February 8th
Cameron Hackney  5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.  Thursday, February 11th

Video presentations of all the candidates will be available here. You will find the links to the candidates presentations under the “Special IFAS Faculty Assembly Meetings, SVP Candidate Address”.  The videos should be posted the day after their presentation.  Dr. Carter believes the presentations are also being offered at the REC centers and at selected Extension offices around the state.

 

Kudos to Alum!


Halsey Beshears Wins Farm Credit/FNGLA Young Nursery Professional of the Year

Congratulations to Class V member Halsey Beshears, Simpson Nurseries in Monticello, FL on winning the 2009 Farm Credit/FNGLA Young Nursery Professional of the Year Award. This award is presented to an FNGLA member who is under 39 and has made an outstanding contribution to the industry.

The Farm Credit/ FNGLA Young Nursery Professional of the Year Award is an established partnership between Farm Credit Associations of Florida and the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association. Beshear’s name will now be submitted to the Southern Nursery Association (SNA) as Florida’s nominee for the David E. Laird Sr. Memorial Award awarded annually by SNA.


Jorge Abreu
2009 Gran Caiman Del Ano Award Winner

Congratulations to Jorge Abreu (Class VII), Homestead, FL for being selected as this year’s Gran Caimán by the University of Florida Association of Hispanic Alumni. Jorge is President and Owner of West Kendall Nursery, Inc.

Since graduating from the University of Florida, he has become an advocate of the University’s Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC)’s research, teaching, and extension programs in Miami-Dade County and has been a staunch advocate of the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). He has actively lobbied in favor of his industry at the national and local level and was instrumental in helping to secure $15 million in repair and renovation funds for the over 100 IFAS facilities across the state. He serves as the president of the Miami-Dade Chapter Florida Nursery Growers and Landscaping Association (FNGLA) and acts as an advisory board member for both TREC and IFAS.


David Wheeler Re-elected to Florida Citrus Commission

Congratulations to David Wheeler (Class IV) on his re-election to the Florida Citrus Commission.

Wheeler, president of Wheeler Farms in Glades County, oversees production and marketing of grove operations. Previously, he served as general manager. Wheeler has worked in the citrus industry for 21 years and currently serves as president of the Gulf Citrus Growers Association. He is a board member of Dundee Citrus Growers Association and past president of Florida Production Managers Association. He holds a degree in food resource economics from the University of Florida. Wheeler serves as chair of the Planning & Evaluation Committee and vice-chair of the Domestic Marketing Committee.


UF's Department of Agricultural Education & Communication is Number 1 in the U.S.!

Congratulations to everyone at UF ’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communication (but especially Dr. Hannah Carter!). A Ohio State University research team recently identified and honored the department as the leader of its kind in the nation, based on a national survey of agricultural education and communication department chairs. Respondents cited the graduate program, faculty and research program as the department’s outstanding features.

The department has worked to strengthen its graduate program in the last decade, and students’ visibility on the national scene is another key to the department’s success. The study’s results were presented in May at the annual conference of the American Association for Agricultural Education in Louisville, Ky. UF’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communication is part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and offers undergraduate through doctoral degree programs, including an online master’s degree program for agriscience teachers and extension educators.


 

The mission of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Alumni Association:

To build and maintain a broad-based network of leaders committed to promoting Florida agriculture and natural resources and expanding the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The vision of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute Alumni Association:

To be the premier networking association for agriculture and natural resource leaders in Florida.

For more information, please visit the main website of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute