President’s Letter

We hope that everyone is safe, and that your properties fared reasonably well through the recent storms.  Now is a good opportunity to share our appreciation for our Polk County Sheriff’s Office, especially the Bureau of Support Services and the Special Operations Division. In addition to their daily roles in keeping the citizens of Polk County safe and cared for, PCSO deputies frequently deploy to other areas in the state and beyond.  Please join us in expressing our gratitude for their dedication to public safety in Polk and beyond.

I am very pleased to share that Polk County Farm Bureau has met its year-end membership goal!  We are very grateful to our members and also to our customer service representatives in each of our branch offices who work the phone to make sure that each member is renewed and accounted for. I would also like to congratulate our staff and customers who have made it possible for Polk to receive the Florida Agricultural Marketing Association’s Award of Excellence at the 2024 Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. A special thanks and congratulations to Verna Moyer, Debra Lucas, Julissa Falcon, Sonja Munson, and Stephanie Beam. Great work, team!

We held our 82nd Annual Membership and our 2024 Political Rally and Forum on October 3 with a good turnout of members, community stakeholders and candidates, and we appreciate all those who attended. Our special thanks to event sponsors:

Ag America Lending

Central Florida Development Council

Chemical Containers, Inc.

Cutrale Citrus Juices USA

The Mosaic Company

Nucor Steel Florida

Peterson & Myers, P.A.

SVN Saunders Ralston Dantzler

Visit Central Florida

During the business portion of our Annual Meeting the following board members were re-elected to additional three-year terms:

Dean Evans

Ed Lassiter

David Lawson, Jr.

Corby Myers

Keith Walter

Newly elected to the board of directors for a three-year term are:

Kateland Raney

JB Wynn 

We also recognized the following outgoing board members for their years of service: 

Charles Counter – 24 Years; Kenny DeVane – 24 Years and past president; Les Dunson – 27 Years and past president; Leigh Ann Wynn – 9 Years and past president. Our deep and sincere appreciation to these members who have served this organization so very well.   

Sincerely,

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Michael Matteson 

President

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