As you’ll hear in this report by Erin Best, this week’s Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet at the Florida State Fair was a HUGE success.
A record crowd of agriculture producers and ag industry leaders joined Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson for fellowship and dinner to honor four more deserved inductees into this prestigious group of industry leaders. This year’s honors went to (l to r) the late Dr. Jim Griffiths, Winter Haven; the late Richard Kelly, Tallahassee; Kay Richardson, Evinston, & the late Mason Smoak, Lake Placid. 
Southeast AgNet hats are off to these exceptional people who have had so much impact on an industry that is so important to all of us. Learn more about the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame at their website.
In photo below, Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson hands plaque to Mr & Mrs Kay Richardson. 
Find more background about this year’s inductees through these links to other previous news posts:
Newsposts about FL Ag Hall of Fame
AgNet archives featuring Mason Smoak
Agnet archives featuring Dr Jim Griffiths. AgNet footnotes: I have been honored to know each of these fine gentlemen through working to build and operate this ag news network since the early 1980’s. Dr Jim Griffiths was a colorful guest many times on my AgNet radio citrus news broadcasts over the years, his loss coming just days after we began archiving our news on this website in the spring of 2006. Richard Kelly always seemed to be around behind the scenes and available with helpful insight on issues, events and industry functions as needed. I’m honored to consider Kay Richardson a friend, as well as noting his skills as a strong voice and workhorse for cattle industry policy at local, state and national levels. And Mason Smoak, what can be said? Such a great young spokesman and leader for agriculture cut so short of his years among us. Yes, our hats are off to all these guys this year. Well deserved, one and ALL!
Gary Cooper
Southeast AgNet