October 2025
Janyel Taylor of Manatee County received the Florida Farm Bureau’s 2025 Volunteer Communicator of the Year award during the organization’s 84th Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach.
Taylor is a Manatee County Farm Bureau board member, co-owner of Ralph Taylor’s Nurseries and author of a blog called The Veranda View. She uses her digital platform to share articles on agricultural topics and publishes video interviews with local farmers and ranchers.
In addition to her blog, Taylor has invited the public to engage with local agriculture directly by hosting multiple events for her community. This year, Taylor organized the first “Touch a Tractor” day for local farmers, agricultural organizations and the public to come together.
“Janyel exemplifies the spirit of a volunteer agricultural communicator by using every tool available; her voice, her platforms, and her personal experience, to advocate for Florida agriculture in an authentic, compelling way,” said County Farm Bureau President, Ben King. “Her volunteer communication is self-motivated, consistent, and impactful- not driven by sponsorships or professional obligation, but by a deep desire to preserve and promote agriculture in her community and state.”
The Volunteer Communicator of the Year award recognizes a Farm Bureau member who has excelled in volunteering their time and storytelling skills to help bridge the rural-urban gap through general news media, social media platforms, public speaking or classroom education.