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by SHAYLYNN MARKS photos provided by JENNIFER WILLIAMS When Jennifer Williams stepped into Bok Academy North four years ago, there was no established agriculture program waiting for her. Instead, she faced a blank slate and an opportunity to build something meaningful. Today, the agriculture program includes livestock, gardens, aquaculture projects, leadership development, and a culture […]

by SHAYLYNN MARKS photos provided by TRACE FOREMAN Davenport High School’s agriculture program has been named the 2026 Polk County Farm Bureau Ag Program of the Year, an honor recognizing its growth under the leadership of FFA advisors and agriculture education teachers Trace Foreman and Lauren Yearry. “Davenport has done an exceptional job of growing

by RYAN MILEJCZAKphoto provided by Florida Citrus Mutual Every year, AgNet Media recognizes one person for their contributions to the citrus industry with the Citrus Achievement Award. In 2026, that honor goes to fifth-generation Florida citrus grower Ned Hancock.  Hancock runs a 500-acre citrus operation with his wife and two sisters, and provides caretaking services

Dr. LuJean Waters Named Florida’s 2026 Woman of the Year in Agriculture by SHAYLYNN MARKS When Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson named Dr. LuJean Waters the 2026 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, the honor reflected decades of hard work and service. For Waters, a seventh-generation Florida cattle rancher, large-animal veterinarian, and educator, the

Polk County Farm Bureau’s Sarah Waldman Launching Podcast by SHAYLYNN MARKS Sarah Waldman wears many hats at Polk County Farm Bureau, but at the heart of her work, she yearns to help the agriculture community feel seen, understood, and supported. As program coordinator for Polk County Farm Bureau, Waldman works across six focus areas that

Camp Roar Cultivates Student Interest in Ag by RYAN MILEJCZAKphotos provided by Camp ROAR Even though agriculture is part of Florida’s DNA, students in Florida don’t always have the opportunity to get face-to-face with agriculture. That means they miss out on a key experience that can help steer them toward careers in ag.  One camp

Newly Approved CarriCea T1 Rootstock Ignites Hope Among Citrus Growers by RYAN MILEJCZAK Over the past two decades, citrus greening has reduced the Florida citrus industry to a mere shadow of what it once was. While scientists work to find a solution, the industry just scored a major win with the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent

Poultry Industry Plays Meaningful, but Not Dominant, Role in Florida Economy by RYAN MILEJCZAK Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida Which came first, the chicken or the egg? While we can’t answer that age-old question, we can say one thing: Florida has plenty of both! While the state is not a leader for poultry

by SHAYLYNN MARKS Sponsored by Visit Central Florida At Haines Family Farm, blueberry season is measured in more than pounds picked; it’s defined by the lasting memories made by friends and families walking the farm’s lush rows together. For owner Steve Berry, the farm’s u-pick operation has become both a business strategy and a community

Life Lessons Take Root at Rocking Horse Ranch by DEMI GUILLORY Photos provided by Rocking Horse Ranch For nearly a decade, Rocking Horse Ranch in Avon Park has served as a place where horseback riding means saddling up for a unique and meaningful life experience. Jessie Freire and her husband, Sam, own the ranch that