November 16, 2007
Colleen Boggs Of Homestead Named “Woman Of The Year In Agriculture”
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that Colleen Boggs of Homestead has been selected to receive the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award for 2007.
Boggs is owner and president of Pine Island Nursery, a family-owned and operated nursery in southern Miami-Dade County. Established in 1972, Pine Island Nursery is a leading producer and exporter of tropical fruits, and tropical fruit, nut and spice trees.
“Colleen Boggs has contributed greatly to Florida’s agricultural industry during her lifetime of service,” Bronson said. “After working as an assistant taxonomist, high school biology teacher, horse boarder and construction project manager, Colleen bought a small nursery and turned it into a major exporter of fruit and trees. Along the way she overcame major setbacks due to hurricanes and crop disease, never wavering from her commitment to excellence and drive for success.”
A native of Miami and lifelong resident of Florida, Boggs was valedictorian at Lake Placid High School, and later received a bachelor’s degree in bioscience with specialization in botany from Florida State University in 1963. She is a member of the Dade County Farm Bureau and served as the group’s first woman president. Boggs is also a member of the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Dade Agri-Council, and Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida.
The “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award, now in its 23rd year, recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture. It is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida State Fair Authority. Bronson is scheduled to present the award to Boggs on February 7 during the opening-day luncheon at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Tickets for the event are available by calling the fairgrounds at 1-800-345-3247.
Previous winners of the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” Award:
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 about the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award, visit: http://www.florida-agriculture.com/agwoman/index.htm
For more information:
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us
