July 17, 2007
"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 2007 “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. The award, now in its 23nd 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 $97 billion annually.”
Those nominated for the award will be judged by a panel familiar with Florida agriculture. The award will be presented in February at the opening-day luncheon of the 2008 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, 2007. 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 are:
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-Brevard counties
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
