More than 400 grassroots members gathered in Miramar Beach Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort for Florida Farm Bureau’s 2024 State Annual Meeting. Voting delegates discussed and approved policy resolutions that were adopted as the organization’s policy for 2025.
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 volunteer leaders for their distinguished service to agriculture.
Florida Farm Bureau presented an impressive list of awards during the three-day annual meeting, including:
Young Farmers & Ranchers Achievement in Agriculture Award:
Brandt and Samantha Hendricks (Santa Rosa County)
Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award:
Marshal and Taylor Sewell (Levy County)
Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet Award:
Chad Haas (Volusia County)
Collegiate Discussion Meet Award: Jaley Moseley, University of Florida
Collegiate Farm Bureau
Youth Speech Contest Winner: Ashlyn Demanovich (Hillsborough County)
Extension Professional of the Year: Annie Wallau (Clay County)
Pat Cockrell Lifetime Achievement Award: Eva Webb
(Palm Beach County)
Jerry Davis (Santa Rosa County)
Distinguished Service Award: Rod & Brenda Gayle Land
(Lafayette County)
Wilton Simpson (Pasco County)
Newsperson of the Year Award: Debi and Dave Brown (Clay County)
David Brown, Jr. accepts award for his parents
Volunteer Communicator of the Year Award: Pat Durden
(Gadsden County)
Certified Crop Adviser of the Year Award: Ryan Richards
(Collier County)
Legislator of the Year Award: Sen. Jay Collins and Rep. Danny Alvarez
Team Player Award: Mariela Seda (Seminole County)
2025 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year:
Jim Alderman (Palm Beach County)
Commissioner’s Ag-Environmental Leadership Award: Costa Farms (Dade County)
Multiple County Farm Bureaus received awards of excellence for achieving top membership and/or selling fresh products offered by Florida Agricultural Marketing Association, a subsidiary of Florida Farm Bureau.
Florida Farm Bureau members re-elected vice president, Steve Johnson of Hardee County and district directors were elected in District 4, 11, 17 and 19: Pat Durden of Gadsden County will serve District 4; Michael Nutt of Pasco County will serve District 11, Keith Wedgworth of Western Palm Beach County will serve District 17 and Barney Rutzke of Dade County will serve District 19. Pat Duane of Marion County was voted by the state board of directors to serve as the organization’s treasurer.
View the 2024 Annual Meeting Flickr album below:
