October 30, 2018
More than 400 grassroots members gathered at the Renaissance World Golf Village Oct. 24-26, 2018 for Florida Farm Bureau’s 2018 Annual Meeting. Voting delegates discussed and approved policy resolutions submitted by county Farm Bureaus throughout the state. The resolutions were adopted as the organization’s policy for 2019.
The meeting included award and recognition programs to honor outstanding young farmers and ranchers, state lawmakers and the accomplishments of county Farm Bureaus and individual members for their distinguished service to agriculture.
Florida Farm Bureau presented an impressive list of awards at the annual meeting, including:
Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement in Agriculture Award: Ashley and Adam Cook (Gilchrist County)
Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award: Melissa and Jake Raburn (Hillsborough County)
Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet Award: Brian Norris (Charlotte County)
Youth Speech Contest Winner: Iverson Alfaro (Orange County)
Newsperson of the Year Award: Phil Marraccini (Dade County)
Volunteer Communicator of the Year Award: David Hafner (Martin County)
Extension Professional of the Year: Libbie Johnson (Escambia County)
Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award: D. Edward Dickinson (Polk County)
Legislator of the Year Award: Sen. Kelli Stargel and Rep. Paul Renner
Team Player Award, Richard Mourfield (Western Palm Beach County)
Distinguished Service Award: Dalton Dowdy, (Duval County) and Richard Barber (Marion County)
2018 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Florida Farmer of the Year: Lynetta Griner (Levy County)
Ag-Environmental Leadership Award: Jim Strickland, Blackbeard’s Ranch (Manatee County), James Shinn, Tree O’Groves (Polk County) and Chuck Allison, Wild Goose Farms (Lake County)
Multiple county Farm Bureaus received awards of excellence for achieving top membership and/or sale fresh products offered by Florida Agricultural Marketing Association, a subsidiary of Florida Farm Bureau.