Monday, the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced John L. Hundley as the 2022 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductee. He will be recognized along with the class of 2021 inductees given last year’s banquet was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said, “The impact of agriculture on our state’s history, culture, and economy cannot be overstated. From providing an economic impact of nearly $150 billion, to being stewards of the land, to putting food on the tables of families across the state, nation, and world – our farmers positively impact the lives of Floridians every day.” She said, “I am honored to recognize Mr. Hundley and his work over more than five decades on his family farm. I am also thankful that the class of 2021 will have the opportunity to be formally inducted at this year’s banquet as we recognize the contributions of leaders in agriculture who keep Florida growing.”
Hundley has been an active part of Florida’s agricultural community for more than five decades. A native of Pahokee, he worked on his father’s farm before founding Hundley Farms, Inc., with his wife, Patsy. The enterprise began on 400 acres of leased land, growing sweet corn and radishes. Today the operation consists of about 16,000 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), central Florida, and Bainbridge, GA, where they grow sugarcane, sweet corn, green beans, radishes, cabbage, field corn, rice, cattle, cotton, peanuts, soybeans and assorted winter produce. The Hundley Farms team now includes their son, John Scott Hundley, their daughter and son-in-law, Krista and Eric Hopkins, and grandson Cooper Hopkins.
A longtime member of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative, Hundley has been on its board of directors for 34 years and served as its chairman of the board for seven years. He has served on the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District and has been active in numerous other groups.
The induction ceremony will be held at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on February 15, 2022.