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Plant City Ag Awards Salute Farmer, Educator, Publisher

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2008

PLANT CITY - An agriculture teacher, farm magazine publisher and others were honored today at an annual ceremony that salutes agriculture in the Plant City area.

The awards have been presented for at least 18 years by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and Farm Credit of Central Florida.

The winners honored at this morning's breakfast meeting included:

• Richard Joyner, who recently retired as president of Farm Credit of Central Florida, was named agriculturist of the year. Joyner has worked as a Baptist minister since his retirement and stays active in agriculture in part by helping his grandchildren with their FFA and 4-H projects.

• Maurice and Leslie Turgeau, who own Berry Bay Farms in Wimauma, were named young agriculturists of the year. The husband, 34, and wife, 33, grow strawberries and a spring crop of cantaloupes and squash.

• Jason Steward, a teacher at Tomlin Middle School, was named agriculture educator of the year. Steward, who is in his second year teaching at Tomlin, formerly taught at Durant High School.

• Karen Berry, publisher of In the Field magazine, was named agribusiness owner of the year. She started the farm magazine about three years ago and has editions in several area of Florida.

• Publix Super Markets was given a newly created award for its support for youth agriculture. The grocery chain supports hundreds of agriculture events large and small, including support for youth activities at the Florida State Fair and Florida Strawberry Festival, a chamber spokesman said.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432 or dnicholson@tampatrib.com.

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