October 2025
Woody Larson of Larson Dairy in Okeechobee has been named the 2026 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year. The winner was announced at Florida Farm Bureau’s 84th State Annual Meeting on October 29 at the Daytona Hilton Oceanfront Beach Resort.
Larson joined the family business in 1973 after graduating from The University of Florida and marrying his high school sweetheart, Grace.
He worked as a barn manager and later served as general manager of several dairy barns. Under his leadership, the dairy expanded to more than 12,000 cows.
In 2001, Larson and his wife Grace, founded Family Tree Enterprises, a diversified agricultural business specializing in dairy and beef operations along with hay, sod and nursery sales.
Larson has held many leadership positions in various organizations. He served as officer of Southeast Milk Inc., for more than 20 years, board chairman of Farm Credit of Florida, and president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. Nationally, he has represented Florida on the National Milk Producers Federation and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board.
Larson has always given back to his community and supported agricultural education through his involvement in 4-H and FFA.
Larson and Grace were active participants in the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers program in the 1970s, and Larson was named the Florida Farm Bureau Outstanding Young Farmer in 1980. Other achievements include being inducted into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame, receiving the University of Florida IFAS Award of Distinction in 2006 and Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007 and being named one of the 2026 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees.
As the 2026 Florida Farmer of the Year, Larson will represent Florida Farm Bureau at various events to champion agriculture. Additionally, he will compete for the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year in Moultrie, Ga., against farmers from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.