June 17, 2009
Woman Of The Year In Agriculture Award Nomination Deadline Is November 1
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that nominations are being accepted for the 2009 “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. The award, now in its 25th year, recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture.
“This award spotlights the vital role of women in Florida agriculture and serves to encourage other women to get involved in the business,” Bronson said. “Many women have made significant contributions over the years in developing and sustaining this important industry, which has an overall economic impact estimated at more than $100 billion annually.”
Those nominated for the award will be judged by a panel familiar with Florida agriculture. The award will be presented on February 4, 2010, during the opening-day luncheon of the Florida State Fair in Tampa.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which sponsors the event, has sent nomination forms to agricultural organizations around the state. The deadline for submitting nominations to the Department is November 1, 2009. Nominations remain active for two years; after that time they must be resubmitted in order to be considered.
For more information about the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award including screening criteria and biographies of previous winners, or to obtain nomination forms, call Richard Gunnels at (850) 488-3022 or visit www.florida-agriculture.com/agwoman/index.htm.
Previous winners of the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award”:
2008 Patsy Nathe, of Dade City
2007 Colleen Boggs, of Homestead
2006 Iris Wall, of Indiantown
2005 Marlene Strickland, of Sarasota
2004 Martina “Teena” Borek of Homestead
2003 Jennie Lee Zipperer of Fort Myers
2002 Annette Barnett Land of Branford
2001 Barbara Carlton of Sidell
2000 Helen Houck of Perry
1999 Vina Jean Banks of Balm
1998 Nancy Gurnett Hardy of Winter Haven
1997 Gertrude “Trudy” Carey of Hillsborough County
1996 Norma Stokes of Highlands County
1995 Louve “Vee” Frierson Platt of Clewiston, and Patricia Robbins of Miami
1994 Anne Wardlaw Dickinson of Frostproof
1993 Sarah W. Bailey of St. Johns County
1992 Carol C. Murphy of Volusia County
1991 Ruth M. Tucker of Brevard County
1990 Jeanette Barthle of Pasco County
1989 Belle Jeffords of Alachua County
1988 Carolyn Reed Kempfer of Osceola County
1987 Dorothy Conner Shipes of Lake County
1986 Ruth Wedgworth of Belle Glade
1985 Jo Ann Smith of Marion County
For more information:
Richard Gunnels
(850) 488-3022
gunnelr@doacs.state.fl.us
