Page 31 - CFANOct13

BRYAN
ZOOMING IN ON AGRICULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
MEDER, HERO

IT WAS A HOT AUGUST DAY

in Pittsburg, PA., when Bill Crispin
and I walked into the hearing room on

behalf of the farmers, who were denied
full crop insurance benefits for freeze PCFB

damage to their crops.
Bryan Meder, the crop insurance

adjuster who investigated their claim, Annual Meeting

drove hours from his New York home to
testify. Under oath, he stated his evalua- The Polk County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting

tion of the farmers’ claims that was pro- featured a special message from Florida Farm
vided to the company. He explained that
Bureau President John Hoblick, as well as
he received a call directing him to lower honored supporters of the ag industry, and included
his appraisal, which he refused, and was
special partnership with youth from local FFA Chapters.
taken off the job.
He withstood an intense cross ex- Photos by JUSTIN RHEINER

amination. On redirect I asked only one

question: “Why did you drive all those
miles down here to testify for the farm-

ers.” He responded, “Because it was the
right thing to do.”

As he left in the late evening for home
he said he was taking his daughter and

her sheep to the State Fair in New York
the next day. He proudly said, “We are

members of FFA.” Most important to

him, she won two blue ribbons.
A month later a Final Judgment on

behalf of the farmers came in the mail
from the Court, adopting Bryan’s num- Christine Smith (left) and Heather Nedley Senator Denise
represent The Mosaic Company, which
bers to the penny. Heroes are ordinary Grimsley was
folks who do extraordinary acts in the
received the Feeding Hope Award, honored by Florida

face of adversity. I believe there’s a presented by Rebecca Brislain (right) of Farm Bureau with
little of Bryan Meder in all of us.
the Florida Association of Food Banks.
the Champions for

Agriculture award.
Rep. Neil Combee
was recognized

as a Champion of
Agriculture by the

Florida Farm Bureau.

by MICHAEL MARTIN

BIO: Michael Martin of Martin Law Office in Lake-

land specializes in agriculture and environmental FFA member Lexi
legal representation. A native of Polk County, Mike Sanchez was one
attended college at Sewanee in Tennessee, before Joyce and
obtaining a doctorate in law from the University of of the many youth
Florida and has tried numerous cases nationwide Floyd DeVane
since that time.
participating in the
night’s program.

FloridaAgNews.com
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