Published: December 31, 2008 09:11 am      

Lyons one of 13 named to Farm Bureau posts

Mayo resident wins spot on advisory committee

Chris Lyons of Mayo is among 13 Florida farmers and ranchers named to advisory committees of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The purpose of the Advisory Committees is to gather facts and evaluate agricultural opportunities that benefit the whole of American agriculture and to serve in an advisory capacity to the American Farm Bureau president, Bob Stallman, and the organization’s board of directors.

“These appointments are an incredible opportunity for Florida agriculture,” said Frankie Hall, director of agricultural policy for Florida Farm Bureau Federation. “This is a testament not only to the knowledge and experience of our member farmers but to the significant roles they play in their respective areas of agriculture on a national scale.

“We are proud to have them as Florida Farm Bureau leaders and as representatives for national agriculture as well.”

The Florida Farm Bureau members and their respective committees are: Richard Carroll of St. Petersburg, Ag Nursery and Greenhouse; Ronald Slay of Center Hill, Aquaculture; Matt Harrison of Arcadia, Beef Cattle; Brant Schirard, Jr. of Ft. Pierce and Kyle Story of Babson Park, Citrus; Bill Benham of Astatula, Equine; Chris Lyons of Mayo, Hay and Forage; Steve Cantu of Zolfo Springs, Honey/Apiculture; Roland Yee of Port St. Lucie, Horticulture; Michelle Williamson of Sydney, Labor; Jeffrey Pittman of Bascom, Peanut; Carl Perry of Moore Haven, Sugar; and Damon Deas of Jennings, Tobacco.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with more than 138,000 member-families statewide. There are Farm Bureaus in 62 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg of Florida’s economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic importance. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of government.