From Emerging Leaders to Proven Service
Agricultural leaders, both emerging and established, are getting some attention across the Southeast.
In Florida, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association has selected 13 professionals for Class 16 of its Emerging Leader Development Program.
Over the next year, they’ll tour farms and packing operations, visit Tallahassee during the legislative session and travel to California to compare production practices and challenges.
The program has trained more than 170 people since 2011, with 11 graduates later serving on FFVA’s board. Here is the full class:
Hunter Abowd of U.S. Sugar
Shane Byers of Florida Crystals
Cody Clark of Southern Hill Farms
Cole Council of Council-Oxford, Inc.
Robert Doyle of Maury L. Carter & Associates, Inc.
Will Givens of Mixon Family Farms
Evan Hayden of B&W Quality Growers
Justin Mason of Organics Management Holdings
Samuel Miller of Noble Ag
Kayleigh Mollycheck of A. Duda & Sons
Jamie Reyes of Lipman Family Farms
Eyad “Eddie” Shuker of GP Farms, LLC
Kyle Thompson of Harplyn Irrigation, Inc.
And in Alabama, the Alabama Farmers Federation recently honored two Auburn University Extension professionals.
Dr. Scott Graham received the Rittenour Award for research, including his work helping cotton growers respond to the cotton jassid. Dr. Jeremy Pickens received the Duncan Award for his Extension work with Alabama’s nursery and greenhouse industry.
From developing new leaders to recognizing those already serving growers, it’s an investment in the people behind Southeast agriculture.
