Tallahassee, FL – The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced that Sarah K. Childs of Lake Placid has been named the 2011 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. The award, now in its 27th year, recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture.
“Sarah has been a long-time ambassador for Florida’s agriculture, livestock and ranching industries,” said Commissioner Putnam. “Her dedication, commitment and service to this state and our community are unmatched and it is an honor to present her with this year’s Woman of the Year in Agriculture award.”
Childs is an integral part of Lykes Bros. Cattle Ranch and Citrus Division, where she works to ensure the company is in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules. She has been an enthusiastic participant in Florida’s agriculture industry, dedicating her time and talents for more than 40 years to organizations, such as Florida Cattlewomen’s Association, Florida Beef Council, Florida Hereford Association, Highlands County Youth Livestock Show and the Highlands County Cattlemen’s Association.
She is the only woman to serve two non-consecutive terms as Florida Cattlewomen’s Association President and as a 4-H Leader has been a chief proponent of providing youth educational and leadership opportunities for more than 15 years.
Her commitment to increasing the awareness of the importance of agriculture and the wholesomeness of agricultural commodities also extends beyond the agricultural community. Childs has taken her vast knowledge to reach out to non-agricultural audiences on the local, state and national level, spreading the word about the safety of Florida’s agricultural commodities, promoting beef in grocery stores and providing leadership on special projects, such as the Feed the Hungry program (Chairman) and Animal Rights (Chairman).
Childs will be presented with the award on February 13, 2012, during the Ag Woman of the Year Luncheon at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. The award is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida State Fair Authority.
For more information about the Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award or to view a list of past recipients, visit http://www.florida-agriculture.com/agwoman/index.htm.