Florida ag leaders briefed the Florida Senate Agriculture Committee in early October on E-coli testing, citrus packing procedures, fertilizer best management practices and large-scale farming.

Among the speakers was Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association board member Rick Roth (and Class II alumni), who emphasized the importance of agricultural research, incentive-based regulations and preserving the ability of agriculture to compete in the marketplace. To hear Roth's and other speakers' statements, click here.

Dave Dymond (Class VI) of H&H Sod Company in Kenansville, Florida, has been appointed president of Turfgrass Producers International. His appointment was announced during TPI’s Annual Business Meeting on July 20th at their summer convention in Reno, NV. Dymond served a three-year term on the association’s board in 2000-3 and served a second term between 2006 to 2009. Dymond has also served as vice president and president of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative and has been active on their board since 1998.

Eric Hjort (Class VII) has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative Board of Directors.

The Agriculture Institute of Florida has produced a video highlighting the diversity and productivity of Florida's farmers as well as the challenges the industry faces. Developed by Erin Freel (Class V), the video tells the proud story of Florida’s agricultural family, and combines their rich heritage, dedication to innovation and excellence, and a long tradition of respecting and caring for the land. Watch the video here.

From left to right: Tom Jr., Michael, Stephen, Toby, Kevin, and Brian Basore

2001 Annual Meeting Awards
Pam Fentress (Class II) receiving the Honorary Director Award from Dr. Hannah Carter	Joe Collins (Class VII) receiving the Farm Credit Leadership Award

Charles E. Allison (Class IV) will be recognized with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Alumni and Friends Award of Distinction at the 15th annual TailGATOR on Sept. 17 (before the UF/Tennessee game) at the O’Connell Center.

Addison will receive CALS Horizon Award and Award of Distinction in recognition for his service to the UF, IFAS, CALS, and the agriculture, natural resource, life science and related industries and professions.

“Allison is an example of what we would like all our alumni to be, active and involved in their industries, communities and UF/IFAS and who place service to these entities at the forefront of their leadership efforts,” said Hannah Carter, Ph.D., director of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Allison earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food and resource economics in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He has worked for Prudential Financial since 1990, currently serving as managing director for agricultural investments. He has been a member of the Food and Resource Economics Advisory Board since its inception.

“The perspective and experience he brings to the FRE Department allows it to shape its education and research priorities to meet the needs of the agricultural industry,” said Carter.

Allison owns and operates farms in Umatilla, Fla.; Lake City, Fla.; and Valley Center, Calif., producing blueberries, avocados and other agricultural commodities.

Eduardo Pines (Class IV) is a star! Ed is featured in new Tropicana ads for a campaign soon to hit the Tampa Bay area celebrating Florida’s orange growers. The campaign’s tagline is “Tropicana, supporting Florida Orange Growers for over 60 years.” Ed joins alum Dave Crumbly (Class V) who is featured in Florida’s Natural juice commercials.



Bob Adair, Class II, was recently appointed to serve on the Fertilizer Technical Council by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam. As the citrus industry representative for the 13-member council, Bob will advise the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services regarding the administration and enforcement of laws and rules pertaining to licensing, inspection and regulation of the fertilizer industry. Bob is the executive director of the Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability, a research organization dedicated to developing new technologies for agricultural production systems that are economically profitable to the farmer and avoid resource depletion and damage to ecosystems.




Joe Collins, Class VII, was featured in an article in Highlands Today. Joe is vice president of Lykes Bros. Ranch Division and manages the 337,000-acre ranch including the oversight of production of the new alternative biofuel grasses, timber, eucalyptus and sugar cane. He is also chairman of the board of directors for the South Florida Water Management District.

Joe’s passions include water quality and conservation, saying, "We should not just wait for a drought to think about water conservation… We are very fortunate here in the center of the state. We have outstanding water resources, and we need to keep them that way."

To read the story, click here.

Karen Pate, Class VII, was recently named 2011’s Conservation Educator of the Year by the Florida Wildlife Federation. Karen is executive director of Crystal Springs Preserve, a 520-acre wildlife sanctuary and spring located in Pasco County, where she oversees every aspect of the facility, including educating 40,000 students a year about Florida’s natural world.

 

In giving the award, the Florida Wildlife Federation said, “As we struggle to inculcate a sense of stewardship to younger generations, it is only by the work of people like Karen that we will have a chance of success.” 

Sandy Stein, Class VII, was featured in a recent Miami Herald article entitled "South Florida’s nursery industry: Alive and growing.” He’s the owner of The Jungle Nursery in Homestead and spoke about the challenges of being competitive in an ever-changing market.

 

“We’re having to re-create ourselves endlessly,” Stein said. He had to spend about $60,000 to build a high-tech mist house to more cheaply produce the best quality plants.

 

He’s also patented a unique pot that features inspirational, funny or congratulatory messages on reversible bands. In developing the new product, Stein has had to think about things a farmer never would: how to package and present the item, color schemes and prototypes.

 

To read the story, click here.



Sylvia Gordon, Class V, has recently been awarded the Wendell Butler Award, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association's (FNGLA) most prestigious award. This award recognizes an individual who serves FNGLA and the industry by providing leadership, service, and contributions, showing a sincere interest in the advancement of the association and the industry. 








Appearing in the May issue of OrlandoStyle magazine is none other than Brad Hester of Class II.  He claims it's "another shameless plug for the WLI and Florida ag, in a magazine devoted to anything but that.  I think that is pretty darn funny – my little inside joke to myself."

We think it's a great testament to his work in bringing agriculture to the forefront of Floridians' minds. To read the article, click here.







 

Class VII member Joe Collins is now Chairman of the South Florida Water Management District. Joe, who was appointed to the district by former Governor Charlie Crist, is Vice President of Lykes Brothers, a farm and ranching operation that owns more than 300,000 acres north of Lake Okeechobee. He will chair a governing board that is expected to have five new members appointed by Governor Rick Scott.




 

Mark Stowers, Class II, has joined HM Clause and will head up R&D with a primary role in managing the global plant-breeding activities. Mark will be based in Davis, California but will lead a team of researchers in more than 12 countries. Mark joins Matthew Johnston (Class II) and Bob Conrad (Class IV) as members of the HM Clause management team.

Class VII's Carlton Ward continues to showcase his photography, this time at UF's Florida Museum exhibit entitled 

Ward is an eighth-generation Floridian with a strong connection to ranching, and his photographs appear in both exhibits."The exhibit focuses on Florida ranch lands and culture and the environment it protects," Carlton, said. "It's an unseen and tremendously important part of Florida." For more info, click here.



Class II's Bob Adair was featured in an NPR article about better ways to control the ever-growing list of citrus diseases. Currently at the top of the list is greening disease. He is the executive director at the Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability, Inc (FLARES), works to innovate profitable and ecological strategies to sustain food and fiber production. To read the NPR article, click here.  

Mike Joyner, Class I, has been chosen as Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Assistant Commissioner/Chief of Staff. Joyner has more than 25 years experience building partnerships between the private and public sectors to advance common-sense business, natural resource and environmental policies. He joins the department from the private sector after having previously served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Environmental Protection and stints at the Florida Farm Bureau and Florida Forestry Association.

The Orlando Sentinel recently published an op-ed article written by David A. Dymond (Class VI) regarding the cost and environmental virtues of natural turf vs artificial for stadiums. To view the article, click here. David is the general manager of H&H Sod Co. and a member of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative board.

Carlton Ward, Jr. (Class VII) had his gorgeous photography featured in an amazing exhibit entitled “Range, Furrow, and Grove: Images of Florida Agriculture,” which blended historical photographs with contemporary images of Florida ranching and agriculture. The photography revealed past and present methods and approaches of representing the management of Florida’s natural environment. Carlton is an eighth generation rancher and environmental photojournalist. 

Tracy Duda Chapman (Class III) was featured in Florida Trend's "Must Know Floridian" series as being one of the most powerful women in an operating position in Florida agriculture. Tracy is general counsel and corporate vice president of A. Duda & Sons. She also served on the state’s Environmental Regulation Commission during Gov. Jeb Bush’s administration.

Billy Butterfield, FCHP, FCLC (Class VI) received the FNGLA 2010 Outstanding Division Member because of his contributions to the advancement of landscaping through divisional activities or related service. Billy works for Ameriscapes Landscape Management in Orlando.

Bob Adair (Class II) received the 2010 Florida State Horticultural Society's Best Paper Award for Citrus. His paper, "Demonstration of a Sustainable Approach to Citriculture within a National Wildlife Refuge in the Indian River Area," also was selected for the President's Industry Award at the society's annual meeting. He is the executive director of the Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability in Vero Beach, and is chairman of the Indian River Agricultural Advisory Committee and Soil and Water onservation District board.

Congrats to Class II's Brad Hester who is featured in February's Florida Law Journal's cover story. Hester outlines his ag background as a cattle farmer and how his love of agriculture spurred his pursuit of a law degree. Hester believes that a strong Florida agriculture market nurtures a healthy economy. To read the article, click here.