October 2025
Gayward Hendry, president of Clay County Farm Bureau, was named the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. He was honored during the President’s Celebration Banquet on Oct. 27 at the Florida Farm Bureau State Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach.
Hendry is a community leader and advocate for agricultural policy. During his time as a county commissioner, he worked with the Jacksonville and Clay County Sheriff’s departments. He also served in the U.S. Marines Corps and is currently the director of the Clay County 4-H Foundation.
Dedicated to the development of future farmers, Hendry oversees the Katy Hendry Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of his daughter, a former agriculture teacher and FFA advisor in Clay County. The scholarship supports students pursuing careers in agricultural education.
Hendry and his wife, Susan, own Hendry Farms, which hosts a petting zoo, sugar cane grinding demonstrations and a syrup-making event that attracts hundreds of visitors annually.
“Whether through his leadership in Farm Bureau programs, community outreach efforts or steadfast commitment to sustainable farming practices, Gayward has demonstrated a level of service that goes beyond expectations,” said Robert Norman, president of Baker County Farm Bureau. “Gayward’s integrity, vision, and unwavering commitment to the farming community has left an indelible impact on the industry and the individuals he has worked alongside.”
Established in 1966, the Distinguished Service Award honors exceptional Florida agriculturalists for their contributions to farming at the local or state level.