Hoblick
elected president of Florida Farm Bureau Federation
John Hoblick, a Volusia county fern producer,was elected President of the
Florida Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest agricultural organization
based in Gainesville, Fla. He was elected at the Federation's 65th Annual
Meeting which concluded Friday, Oct. 13 at the Hilton Oceanside, Daytona
Beach. Hoblick, who will serve a two-year term, succeeds Carl B. Loop, Jr.
of Jacksonville, who retired after 23 years as president.
Rick Roth, who farms in the Belle Glade area, was re-elected Vice President.
Michael Dooner of Gadsden County was elected Treasurer and Mark Byrd of
Orange County was elected Secretary.
New members elected to the state board include Daniel Peterson, Esq. of
Volusia County, Steve Johnson of Hardee County, and Brantley Schirard of
St. Lucie County. Michelle Williamson of Hillsborough County joined the
board following her election as vice chair of the state Women's
Leadership Committee.
Steve
and Andrea Johnson named Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher
Steve and Andrea Johnson of Bowling Green drove away in a new Dodge Ram
quad cab truck, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company,
as winners in the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 2006 Outstanding
Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) competition.
The Johnsons manage 3,232 acres in Hardee and Manatee counties. Johnson
Groves and Farm, Inc. includes cattle and citrus with all aspects of the
business being handled internally. They also own and operate Johnson Harvesting,
Inc., which is not only a fruit brokering firm but also manages harvesting
crews for their farms and others. The Outstanding YF&R competition
rewards those involved in production agriculture who exhibit including
leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other
organizations (i.e., civic, service and community).
Michelle
Williamson is new vice chair of Florida Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership
Committee
Three women were elected and a new vice chair was named to the Florida
Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee at the
Federation’s annual meeting Oct. 11-13 at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort
in Daytona Beach.
Michelle Williamson of Sydney was named new the vice chair. Elected to
the committee were Ila Crocker of Plant City (District 5), Laurie Schuller
of Scootsmoor (District 7), and Cindy Griffin of Davie (District 8). Virginia
Paarlberg of Lee is the chair of the State Leadership Committee. Paarlberg
and Williamson will serve on the Florida Farm Bureau board of directors.
The Women’s Leadership Committee also includes Mildred Taylor of
Lyn Haven (District 1); Betty Poucher of Live Oak (District 2); Kelli
Hofer of Ocala (District 3); Norma Jean Parrish of Jacksonville (District
4); Brittany Phypers of Lake Placid (District 6); and Andrea Johnson of
Bowling Green (Young Farmer and Rancher Representative).
The womens meeting was sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities.
Florida
Farm Bureau honors L.E. McMullian and Howell Waring with the Distinguished
Service Award
Florida Farm Bureau Federation honored L. E. “Junior” McMullian
of Sneads and Howell Waring of Madison for their life-long service to
agriculture at the Federation’s 65th annual meeting Oct. 11-13 at
Daytona Beach. President Carl B. Loop, Jr. presented the Distinguished
Service Award to McMullian’s wife, Sara, and Waring’s wife,
Ann, and other members of their respective families.
David and Donna Harris win Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer &
Rancher Excellence in Agriculture Award
David and Donna Harris of Raiford will represent Florida in the national
Young Farmer & Rancher Excellence in Agriculture competition at the
American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting at Salt Lake City, Utah
in January 2007. The Excellence in Agriculture Award is an opportunity
to recognize farmers and ranchers under the age of 35 who do not derive
the majority of their income from an owned agricultural operation. The
Harris’ received the state award Oct. 13 at the Florida Farm Bureau
Annual Meeting at the Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Hilton. The couple collected
$1,200 as winners of the Florida competition. Participants are judged
on their involvement in agriculture, leadership ability, involvement and
participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations.
Kenneth
Parker named Certified Crop Advisor of the Year
Kenneth Parker, a Certified Crop Advisor for Chemical Dynamics of Plant
City, is the 2006 winner of the Florida Excellence in Crop Advising Award
sponsored by the Florida Certified Crop Adviser Program and the Florida
Farm Bureau Federation. He was nominated by Michelle Williamson of G&F
farms in Hillsborough County. The farm produces more than 600 acres of
strawberries and over 600 acres of vegetables.
Certified Crop Advisers assist producers in making decisions that are
agronomically, economically and environmentally sound. To be certified,
advisers must pass two comprehensive written examinations, meet professional
and educational standards set by the American Society of Agronomy and
maintain their certification through continuing education. They must also
sign a code of ethics pledging to work in the best interest of their client.
Together, a farmer and a CCA make a team that works to put good management
practices to work on the farm.
Farm
Bureaus share innovative programs through County Idea Exchange at annual
meeting
Three counties presented their inventive and successful ideas and activities
this week at the Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach.
The winners of the 2006 Florida Farm Bureau County Idea Exchange were
Escambia County Farm Bureau, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Okeechobee
County Farm Bureau. The programs were recognized for their unique and
resourceful ways county Farm Bureaus reach out to the public, their communities
and their members.
Escambia County Farm Bureau’s activity was their inaugural Farm Tour
held in October of last year. The purpose of the tour was to showcase
the county’s farming operations for community, government and business
leaders as well as increase the public’s knowledge of agriculture
in the area.
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau shared their idea of “Working with
your local government” via a “How to” video. The video
is a documentary of techniques that can be used to train agricultural
leaders, develop problem solving programs and influence policy.
Okeechobee County Farm Bureau’s program is a Young Farmer and Rancher
Scholarship Barbecue. The barbecue, held on the county fair’s sale
day each March, offers an opportunity to raise money for scholarships
through the sale of dinners.
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