Rural Recharge

Our guest joining us today is Christian Spinosa, Vice President of Dudley Putnam Inc. and Treasurer for Florida Farm Bureau Federation. Christian is a 5 th generation citrus grower and cattle rancher from Bartow, Florida.  A 2014 This Farm CARES recipient, Chirstian and his family business practice environmental stewardship managing citrus, cattle and hay across three counties. Visit  FloridaFarmB...

Our guest joining us today is Dr. Heidi Radunovich, Professor with UF/IFAS Family Youth and Community Sciences. After obtaining an MA and Ph. D. degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of South Florida, Dr. Radunovich has been a faculty member at the University of Florida since 2002, where she engaged in rural behavioral health research.  While Heidi engages in teaching and research, much...

Our guests joining us today is Mr. Matt Caldwell president of the Florida State Parks Foundation. Matt is a 7 th generation Florida native and former member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2018 serving on and chairing several committees including agriculture & natural resources/public lands. In 2020, Matt was elected to serve as the Lee County Property Appraiser, and he also spen...

Our guests joining us today are Kelsey Waters-David, of W.D. Cattle Co. in Hawthorne, Florida. Kelsey, Class President of the Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Group, is a sixth-generation Floridian and cattle producer.  Kelsey and her husband Tyler connected over a love of agriculture and developed an idea for a first-generation business W.D. Cattle Co which launched in 2023.  Together they r...

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. LaDonna LaValle, a dedicated agricultural advocate, business owner, and community leader, born and raised in Taylor County, Florida.  LaDonna is a recent graduate of the Women's Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.  She serves as the District 3 Women's Chair for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and has been an active member of...

Our guest joining us today is Dr. Nathan Palardy, assistant professor and Extension economist in the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida. Dr. Palardy specializes in state and local government with an emphasis on policy and community economic development. His research and Extension programs seek to examine factors related to the growth and competitiveness of Florida'...

Our guest joining us today is Bob Hochmuth, Center Director for the UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Educational Center. A National Association of County Agricultural Agents Hall of Fame member, focusing on commercial vegetable and watermelon crops, Bob has served the northeast extension district of Florida for decades. He was the first Florida Farm Bureau Extension Professional of the Year award...

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. Reba Mazak, the 2025 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. Reba is a fifth-generation Florida cattle rancher based in Sumter County. She and her late husband, Paul, built Mazak Ranch into a thriving cattle operation with land in Florida and Texas. She has been an active advocate for agriculture serving as the former President for both the Florida CattleWomen and the...

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Trevor Williams, also known as the Farm Traveler. Trevor is a podcaster and YouTuber with a love of all things' agriculture. A Florida native, Trevor graduated with a degree in Agricultural Education and Communication with a minor in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida.  The goal of the Farm Traveler is to connect consumers with farmers acros...

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. Christy Chiarelli, assistant extension scientist in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, and director of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Originally from Laurel, Mississippi, Christy grew up showing market lambs and Brahman cattle for projects in her FFA chapter and 4-H club and was later elected to s...

Our guests joining us today are Lance Watson, Director of National Legislative Affairs and Tripp Hunter, Director of State Legislative Affairs for Florida Farm Bureau Federation. Our conversation today will detail how Lance, Tripp and the Legislative Affairs team serve our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advance the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can...

Our guest joining us today is Rachael Smith Director of Public Relations for Florida Farm Bureau Federation.  Our conversation today will detail how Rachael and the Public Relations team serve our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advance the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Ms. Lucy Abell, owner/operator of Abell Livestock Company in DeSoto County. A second-generation cattle rancher, Lucy grew up in Texas before moving to Florida to expand her family's commercial cattle operation which operates in Northeastern New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and in South Central Florida. Lucy is one of three Finalists for the Florida Farm Bureau Farmer...

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Matt Pearce, Owner of Pearce Cattle Company.  Matt is an 8 th generation Floridian and cattle rancher with a diverse operation including sod, beef cattle, hunting, and even photography workshops.   He is the past president of the Florida Cattleman's Association and serves on the board of Conservation Florida working to preserve working lands and wild habitats acro...

Our guest joining us today is Geoffrey Patterson, Director of Agricultural Policy for Florida Farm Bureau Federation.  Our conversation today will detail how Geoffrey and the Agricultural Policy team serve our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advance the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Chase & Amber Cannady, Owners of North Florida Elderberry Farm. Chase and his wife Amber started their booming elderberry business four years ago when Amber started using elderberry as a home remedy for their three children.  Since that time, they have expanded the farm to five varieties of elderberries and selling an array of products including syrup, jelly, vinegar...

Our guest joining us today is Halee Winder, Membership Acquisition Manger for Florida Farm Bureau Federation.  Our conversation today will detail how Halee and the Membership team serve our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advance the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Jake Pendergrass, the Class 10 Young Farmers & Ranchers President for Florida Farm Bureau Federation.  Jake grew up on his family's cow/calf operation in North Alabama and moved to Florida when he was 12 years old.  He spent his teenage years helping on the family's citrus grove in Zolfo Springs, which would lead Jake to get his degree in citrus and horticultural...

Our guest joining us today is Keitha Bennett, Director of Agriculture Education Services & Technology, Inc. or AEST. Our conversation today will detail how Keitha and the AEST team serve our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advance the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Adam Cook, owner-operator of Cook Farms with his wife, Ashley. Mr. Cook is a fifth-generation farmer from Gilchrist County, Florida, producing a variety of crops. He serves on the Florida Farm Bureau Federation State Board of Directors and has an extensive history participating with the Young Farmers & Ranchers Program. Adam and Ashley were the Florida Farm Bureau Fed...

Our guest joining us today is Mitzi Lucas, Leadership Programs Coordinator for Florida Farm Bureau. Our conversation today will detail how Mitzi and the Leadership Programs serve our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advance the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Vice President of Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Mr. Steve Johnson. Mr. Johnson is a fourth-generation farmer from Wauchula, Florida producing beef cattle, citrus and custom harvesting in Hardee and Manatee Counties under Treeair Cattle Company and Johnson Harvesting, Inc. He has been involved with Florida Farm Bureau Federation dating back to 2002 and has served his...

Our guest joining us today is Mr. Christopher Horne. Mr. Horne serves as the Senior Director of Business Development for Florida Farm Bureau. Our conversation today will detail how Mr. Horne serves our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advances the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Sarah Solano of Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms, located in Levy County. Cedar Key Aquaculture Farms is a family run wholesale operation, where they harvest upwards of 25,000 clams per week. You can find these clams in groceries from Miami all the way to Massachusetts.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.

Our guest joining us today is Mrs. Jaime Jerrels. Mrs. Jerrels serves as the Senior Director of Policy and Outreach for Florida Farm Bureau. Our conversation today will detail how Mrs. Jerrels serves our members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and advances the Voice of Ag.   Visit  FloridaFarmBureau.org to learn how you can get involved in Florida Agriculture.