Reaching Out Helps Future Farming Leaders Take A Lot In

Class 4 of FFVA's Emerging Leader Development Program tour Lipman Produce’s farm in Duette.

Class 4 of FFVA’s Emerging Leader Development Program tour Lipman Produce’s farm in Duette.

Class 4 of FFVA’s Emerging Leader Development Program hit the road recently for a tour of farming and packing operations in Hillsborough, Polk, and Manatee counties. It was the group’s third seminar in the year-long program and the first time class members had visited in the field with other FFVA members.

The group benefited from seeing a variety of operations up close as well as the opportunity to have frank discussions with FFVA producer members about the challenges they face. Topics ranged from labor and water to pest and disease pressures and market swings. Class members said they appreciated the candor of the tour hosts who opened their operations to the group.

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Company CEOs, farm managers, and others open their operations up for this small group of young professionals to see. They share best practices, lessons learned, and industry insight with these up-and-coming leaders. And the class participants take note.

“One of many great things this program provides is the opportunity to network with a wide array of people in the produce industry,” said Class 4 member Matt Griffin of Lipman Produce. “Additionally, we gain exposure to different sectors, giving us a wider perception of everything that this business encompasses. The program accomplishes this with the sessions, conferences, and tours.”

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Tour stops and hosts for the Florida production trip included the Florida Strawberry Growers Association in Dover (Kenneth Parker and Sue Harrell); Florida Pacific Farm in Dover (Kim Stickles and Bradley Ferguson); DiMare Fresh in Ruskin (Skeeter Bethea); Wish Farms in Plant City (Gary Wishnatzki and Amber Kosinksy); Fancy Farms (Carl Grooms and Dustin Grooms); Farm Credit in Lakeland (Ron O’Connor, Regina Thomas, and Reggie Holt); Wm. G. Roe & Sons in Winter Haven (Bill, Geoff Roe, and April Roe Porter); Florida’s Natural Growers in Lake Wales (Nikki Black Hayde); Wm. P. Hearne Produce in Parrish (Kevin Taylor); Lipman Produce in Duette (Larry Moss); and the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (Jack Rechcigl and Gary Vallad).

Giving Back

The Emerging Leader program also has a community service component. The group had conducted a food drive in the weeks before the tour that netted large quantities of non-perishable food, children’s books, and clothing.

The donations filled the storage compartments of the tour bus, and a highlight of the trip was delivery to the Redlands Christian Migrant Association center in Dover. Center staffers Liana Lauro and Elda Cruz greeted the class members, who were delighted to get to meet the children during their after-lunch snack time.

High Five

FFVA’s leadership development program is entering its fifth year and continues to grow in influence and reach. Applications are now being accepted for Class 5. The program focuses on developing leaders who are prepared with a depth of knowledge of the many issues facing agriculture. It provides them with the education and tools to deal with those issues, and challenges them to engage in FFVA and other industry organizations.

Applicants must be between 25 and 40 and must come from within an FFVA member’s organizations or family to participate. Applicants must be working in or pursuing a career in Florida’s specialty crop industry. A class of eight to 10 members will be selected. The deadline to submit applications for the next class is May 1.

For more information and to find the application form, visit Floridaspecialtycropfoundation.org/leadership.

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