Ferris Waller, known to many as Boss Hogg, has played a key role in establishing foundational enterprises throughout not only Plant City, but much of central Florida.
He is the mastermind behind the Plant City Farm & Flea Market and his newest venture is bringing his eclectic taste into homes throughout the area. Thanks to Boss Hogg Plant City once again has a hometown radio station.
“Our saying is we don’t play opera, heavy metal, punk rock, rap or crap,” Waller said. “In the morning it’s heavy country, we call it ‘Heinz 57 music,’ which means its a wide variety of music. It’s what I enjoy and I think a lot of other people will enjoy it, too.”
“Boss Hogg Radio” can be listened to at WHNR 1360 AM or streamed online at plantcitymarket.com. Waller said
he listened to Al Berry and Ercell Smith at WPLA. When he found out a Winter Haven station was up for sale he decided he would purchase it and bring a station back to Plant City.
Waller is the epitome of an entrepreneur. When he realized the limitations in place at the Plant City Farmers Market he decided to create one where anyone could come and sell their wares.
He started off with one-half acre and seven vendors. Now he has approximately 40 acres and more than 100 vendors. The flea market on Wednesdays attracts more than 375 vendors with more than 2,500 customers every week. He said they’ve even had trucks come from as far as Canada to sell and buy produce.
An economic impact study by Allen W. Hodges, Ph.D., an extension scientist with the University of Florida’s Food and Resource Economics Department, in 2017 found that annual sales of the market are more than $177 million, which impact nearly 3,200 full and part-time jobs.
On top of the highly successful market, Waller owns several other businesses including a metal roofing shop, a sign shop, I-4 power equipment, an RV park, Kathleen’s Garden & Grandpa’s Event Barn and several restaurants throughout central Florida.
“I’m the only kid in my class that owns six businesses to make a living,” Waller said. “I think I would have to say that practically everything I’ve done has been an accident. I went to Orlando one time to go to a metal roofing show and ended up at the wrong place. They were having a sign show instead. Next thing I knew I was opening a sign shop.”
Waller attributes his non-stop lifestyle to simply “trying to stay busy.” He joked the hope is it will keep him out of trouble. When he isn’t working at one of his many businesses he can be found on his ranch off Knights Griffin Road tending to his 75 head of cattle.
When he began creating River Ratz Cafe in Nobleton he handpicked the unique playlist of classic tunes that serenade customers all day long. He realized the ambiance worked and chose to carry that on in his new station.
Unlike many formal stations, Boss Hogg Radio is an open pod themed setup. When you walk through the door the hosts are all sitting around a table, their equipment grouped all together in the same room. It creates a “reality radio” aesthetic, Waller said. When something happens in the studio, listeners go along for the ride.
He said they’ve been told it will fail, but that the feedback they’re beginning to receive from listeners is indicating he may have once again been onto something. Working in the new studio didn’t lessen the itch. Waller is now finalizing negotiations for the radio station in Bushnell to further his reach.
His lineup is diverse and impressive. Listeners will hear everything from classic country to jazz, reggae and even disco. If it’s good music, it’ll come across the air, Waller said. Word began to spread of the unique setup Waller was creating down in Plant City. Soon he had people reaching out asking to be a part of his team.
A name many might recognize comes on every day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for The Rocket Man Show with Johnny Rocket. The comedian has received national recognition and lives in Lakeland.
When he realized Plant City was about to get back into the broadcasting game Waller said he was right on board to join the movement. Many of the other broadcasters, like Charlie Brown from Polk County, are broadcast experts and have been on the radio for decades.
“I tell everyone this is the Boss Hogg Radio Station of has-beens and wanna-bes,” Waller said. “We are not as close to being professional as some of those other stations out there. When you tune in you’re going to have some fun because we are and listeners are a part of that.”
He’s poured his time, investments and heart into his community and said he is always looking for something that he is passionate about that can help the area continue to grow.
Waller’s 80th birthday was this week and he has no plans to slow down his pursuit of new ventures and uncharted territory.
“I’m just trying to get as much done in the few years I have left,” Waller said. “I would like to see Plant City have something of its own again, like it used to have.”