March 6, 2014
Gainesville, Fla.–Florida women representing 28 county Farm Bureaus received the Women’s Activity Award at the Florida Farm Bureau’s State Women’s Leadership Conference, Feb. 28, at The Shores Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach Shores.
Recipients of the award were recognized for their contributions to their local communities and their work at improving awareness of agriculture through educational programming, leadership development and public outreach.
“Farm Bureau women are the pillar of our organization,” said Michael Rogalsky, Farm Bureau women’s leadership coordinator. “Their activities are essential in helping us to communicate the importance of agriculture through their outreach to the schools, legislators and the general public.”
The following counties received awards: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Clay, Columbia, Dade, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Hernando/Citrus, Highlands, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Pinellas, Putnam/St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Washington and Western Palm Beach.
The conference drew more than 90 members from across the state. The conference theme, “Speak up S’More”, encouraged women to tell agriculture’s story within their communities. Conference sessions included interactive breakouts on consumer marketing and presenting accurate information about agriculture, financial planning, farm tours and an emotional closing session by Char Westfall, the widow of Chief Petty Officer Jacques Fontan, a U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed in action.
Farm Bureau Women play an essential role in telling the farming story at the local, state and national level. Farm Bureau Women are actively involved with schools, charitable organizations and various events to promote public understanding about agriculture.
Florida Farm Bureau is the Sunshine State’s largest general agricultural organization with more than 147,000 member-families statewide. Membership provides a multitude of benefits. You don’t have to be a farmer to be a member of Florida Farm Bureau.